Which finding represents a late sign of frostbite?

• A. Pale skin with numbness
• B. Numbness and tingling
• C. Early blistering and warmth
• D. Later blistering and tissue necrosis

Answer: (D)

Frostbite injury progresses from numbness and color change to blistering during thaw and, if the blood supply remains compromised, to tissue death. Early signs come from the freezing process and nerve disruption, such as numbness and pale skin; tingling can accompany sensory loss. As rewarming occurs, blisters can form, but this is not the late stage. If ischemia persists and tissue viability declines, necrosis develops, leading to dark, dead tissue and ongoing blistering. Therefore, later blistering combined with tissue necrosis best represents the late stage of frostbite.