Which treatment area would place a patient at the greatest risk for hypothermia during whirlpool treatment?

The treatment area that places a patient at the greatest risk for hypothermia during whirlpool treatment is the thigh. This is due to the larger mass of muscle and skin in the thigh region compared to smaller extremities like the wrist, elbow, or foot and ankle.

When immersed in whirlpool treatment, the larger thigh area has a greater volume of water exposure and a longer duration of heat loss when submerged, which can lead to a more significant reduction in body temperature. Additionally, the thigh’s higher surface area can lead to increased heat exchange with the water, especially if the water temperature is lower than the body temperature, creating a risk for systemic hypothermia if the treatment is prolonged.

In contrast, smaller extremities such as the wrist and hand, elbow, and foot and ankle are less likely to experience significant temperature drop due to their reduced surface area and volume of tissue, which have a lesser impact on overall body temperature regulation. Thus, whirlpool treatments involving the thigh should be monitored closely to prevent the risk of hypothermia.