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Case Reports
. 2017 Nov 1:2017:bcr2017221002.
doi: 10.1136/bcr-2017-221002.

Hair thread tourniquet syndrome in a male infant: a rare surgical emergency

Louise Dunphy  1 , Yash Verma  1 , Rossel Morhij  1 , Michael Lamyman  1
Affiliations
Case Reports

Hair thread tourniquet syndrome in a male infant: a rare surgical emergency

Louise Dunphy et al. BMJ Case Rep. .

Abstract

Hair thread tourniquet syndrome (HTTS) is a rare surgical emergency that occurs when one or more appendages are acutely circumferentially strangulated by human hair. If left untreated it may induce prolonged ischaemia, resulting in tissue necrosis or autoamputation of the affected digit. It may involve the fingers, toes, penis or labia. It typically occurs in infants, but cases have also been reported in adults. Prompt recognition and treatment by complete removal of the constricting agent is crucial to preserve the affected tissue. We report a case of HTTS affecting the left middle toe of an 8-week-old male infant successfully treated by surgical release of the hair. The authors aim to raise awareness of HTTS among physicians, emergency doctors, paediatricians and surgeons, as prompt recognition and management prevents adverse outcomes and tissue necrosis.

Keywords: paediatrics; trauma.

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Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: None declared.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Hair thread tourniquet. The toes are the most commonly affected appendage.
Figure 2
Figure 2
An algorithm for the management of hair thread tourniquet (HTS) syndrome.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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