Decompression sickness or cold injury?

This paper reports two cases involving divers who presented with painful hands and were treated for decompression sickness. Although treatment was successful, their symptoms and diving history suggest non-freezing cold injury, the so-called immersion hand, rather than decompression sickness. For long exposures or cases where the diver may have inadequate insulation, thermal protection of hands is recommended even in water as warm as 16 degrees C.