The Science of Saving Limbs: Advancing Frostbite Treatment
ABOUT: This feature story explores how research and clinical innovation are advancing the treatment of severe frostbite and improving outcomes for patients at risk of permanent tissue damage and limb loss. The story highlights the work of Dr. Rachel Nygaard and her colleagues at Hennepin Healthcare, including the development of the Hennepin Frostbite Score, an evaluative tool that helps measure treatment outcomes and limb salvage. It also examines how research has informed more urgent treatment approaches and the use of clot-dissolving therapies to restore blood flow and prevent tissue loss.
Role: Interviewer | Writer | Editor | Visual Curator Publisher
Duties: I led this story from start to finish—interviewing Dr. Rachel Nygaard, translating complex medical research and clinical information into an accessible, engaging narrative, and highlighting how research is advancing the treatment of severe frostbite. I explored the development and application of the Hennepin Frostbite Score, the importance of timely intervention, and the use of clot-dissolving therapies to improve limb salvage outcomes. I refined the story through editing to ensure clarity, accuracy, and accessibility; then sourced, curated, and captioned supporting visuals before publishing the final piece on WordPress.
Published in: HHRI News, 2026
Summary: Severe frostbite can cause deep tissue damage, restrict blood flow, and lead to permanent tissue loss or amputation. At Hennepin Healthcare, researcher Dr. Rachel Nygaard and her colleagues are advancing the understanding and treatment of these injuries. The story explores the development of the Hennepin Frostbite Score, an evaluative tool used to measure treatment outcomes and limb salvage. It highlights how treatment delays can significantly affect the chances of saving tissue. It also examines the use of thrombolytic therapies—clot-dissolving medication that restores blood flow—and how research has helped healthcare providers recognize frostbite as a time-sensitive medical emergency.
“Ultimately, what is translated on the clinical side is the acknowledgement that this is an emergency, the tissue is at risk for amputation, so essentially complete loss if you don’t urgently manage these patients with the pharmacological interventions we have. And so, since that paper [in the Journal of Burn Care & Research], a lot more centers have been treating this more urgently and have seen better outcomes because of that.”