FROSTBITE OF THE FACE AFTER RECREATIONAL MISUSE OF NITROUS-OXIDE

Exposure of the skin to nitrous oxide, a liquified gas stored under pr essure in a cylinder, can occur in anaesthesiologists and in those inv olved in recreational misuse of the gas. A case is reported of a man w ho presented to the emergency department after sniffing nitrous oxide and sustaining frostbite injury to his left cheek. Conservative manage ment of this injury allowed spontaneous separation of the necrotic tis sue and healing of the granulating wound by contraction.