Abstract
Summary and Conclusions
1. Considering that the edema formation following experimental cold injury might be a factor contributing to tissue loss, the prevention of gangrene was attempted by controlling the edema by use of the enzyme hyaluronidase. 2. Tissues edematous after cold injury showed no further swelling and a significant decline in volume after local injection of the enzyme, presumably due to an increased absorption rate of the accumulated fluid. 3. The evacuation of edema did not influence the gangrene as it was observed to develop simultaneously and equally in treated and control extremities. It seems, therefore, that tissue necrosis is not primarily related to accumulation of edema in the region of injury.
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