Hair thread tourniquet syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by the encircling of an appendage by a hair or thread. How hair tourniquet syndrome could cost your baby a toe. A much less common condition involving young infants is the hairthread tourniquet syndrome, or toe tourniquet syndrome, which involves hair or thread becoming so tightly wrapped around an appendage that pain, injury, and sometimes loss of the appendage result. Paralysis induced by a tourniquet is said to be rare, and very few cases have been reported in the literature. Genital hair tourniquet syndrome in children is rare and mainly seen at an age ranging from 4 to 11 years. This clinical scenario typically arises in the pediatric patient population. We report a series of 4 infants with toe tourniquet syndrome from. Hair tourniquet syndrome is a rare clinical phenomenon that involves hair, thread, or similar material becoming so tightly wrapped around an appendage that it results in pain, injury, and, sometimes, loss of the appendage. How hair tourniquet syndrome could cost your baby a toe these parents, whose baby almost lost a toe, want to warn others about the dangers of hair tourniquet syndrome by sharing their scary photo. The term hair tourniquet syndrome was initially coined by barton in 1988 3, although it was recognized earlier. Hair tourniquet syndrome is, fortunately, a rare phenomenon but should be added to every parents crying baby checklist. This syndrome has been described as involving the fingers, the toes and even the genitals. Current reports on other locations for hts are sparse.
Hair tourniquet syndrome is the ischemic strangulation of a part of a childs body due to human hairother fibrous material. The infant usually presents with excessive crying or the caretaker notices the redness of the extremity. Hair tourniquet syndrome is pretty much exactly what it sounds like. Hair may wrap and create a tourniquet resulting in lymphatic obliteration, venous congestion, and arterial obstruction which occasionally lead to necrosis and. This clinical scenario typically arises in the pediatric patient population 3, 4. We report a case of hair tourniquet syndrome affecting multiple toes of an infant. Near strangulation as a result of hair tourniquet syndrome. Hair tourniquet syndrome has been a recognized clinical entity for many decades.
Hair tourniquet syndrome hts, a strangulation of body appendages by a thread of hair, is a rare and often misdiagnosed condition which may result in accidental organ amputation 1. Many advocate for this condition to be termed constricting tourniquet or hairthread tourniquet. Hair toe tourniquet syndrome hts is an emergency constrictive injury. After the hair fiber was removed there was a fast healing period and no signs of tissue necrosis were seen. Hair tourniquet removal abstract hair tourniquet syndrome is a clinical phenomenon that involves hair or thread becoming so tightly wrapped around an appendage that pain, swelling and occasionally ischemia result. Treatment involves prompt removal of the constricting band under general anaesthesia, and results in rapid resolution of the oedema and immediate relief to the patient. It is commonly diagnosed in children under one year of age, but infants under six months are particularly at risk, in which a hair or thread encircles a digit and results in acute digital necrosis. Hair tourniquet syndrome on the toe and labia ihara. This syndrome is cause by a strand or strands of hair strangulating various body parts.
Surgical exploration is mandatory if doubt persists as to. The type of anesthesia given will depend upon the location, severity, and which body part is affected. As improvement was barely noticeable, 2 dorsal paratendinous incisions were made and the hairs were. The condition is analogous to ring constriction hairthread tourniquet syndrome of the digits, toes, or penis. It occurs most commonly among children around 4 months of age. It is a surgical emergency and is characterized by circumferential. We have discussed the unique situation of metal band tourniquet. Hair tourniquet syndrome on the toe and labia takateru ihara division of pediatric emergency medicine, department of pediatric emergency and critical care medicine, tokyo metropolitan childrens medical center, tokyo, japan. Hair tourniquet syndrome is a surgical emergency where a hair. Hair tourniquet syndrome is rare presentations that are not often encountered in orthopedic opds. As a rule any appendage in the body may be affected by hts. Toe tourniquet syndrome refers to external, mechanical, circumferential constriction of the toes.
It typically occurs in infants, but cases have also been. Partial penile amputation due to penile tourniquet syndrome in a child troubled with primary nocturnal enuresisa rare emergency. Essentially, any appendage may be involved, including a toe, wrist, penis, scrotum, tongue, uvula, vaginal labium, ear lobe, umbilicus, or nipple. Different terminologies for description of this scarce entity exist. Increased hair loss a few months after delivering an infant is a common postpartum condition known as telogen effluvium. A much less common condition involving young infants is the hair thread tourniquet syndrome, or toe tourniquet syndrome, which involves hair or thread becoming so tightly wrapped around an appendage that pain, injury, and sometimes loss of the appendage result. Hair tourniquet is a condition where hair or thread becomes tightly wrapped around most commonly a toe, and occasionally a finger, genitals, or other body parts. Its a collection of signs and symptoms syndrome stemming from hair acting like a tourniquet. It is seen mostly in circumcised boys from the developed nations. A strand or strands of hair act like a circumferential constriction band and subsequently strangulate the body appendages. Genital hair tourniquet syndrome, involvement of penis in boys, and clitoris or labium in girls, was most frequently reported 1234 6, 9,10. It involves a thread of hair tied around a penis, causing strangulation which may result in various complications.
The good news is, while a very distressing situation to endure as a parent, outcomes remain consistently excellent. Complications can include tissue death due to lack of blood flow. A case of strangulation of the clitoris in an 8yearold girl caused by a tight ring of cotton fluff is described. These nomenclatures include syndrome of hair tourniquet, hair coil strangulation, toe tourniquet and hair thread tourniquet syndrome or acquired ring syndrome 4,5. However, it is easily treatable and longterm effects are largely preventable with prompt diagnosis. Clinicians should maintain a high index of suspicion when confronted with such presentations.
Mar 11, 2019 hair tourniquet syndrome confers an inherent risk of loss of function and autoamputation. The term was introduced by barton et al1 following his experience of six infants, aged 12 days to 5months, with hair and synthetic fibres strangulating an appendage. We report two cases of hair tourniquet syndrome that affected the. In this condition, body appendages are strangulated by hair that acts like a tourniquet. Because hair tourniquet syndrome can cause your baby to feel a lot of pain, the doctor treating it will most likely administer some sort of anesthesia prior to removing the hair tourniquet. Hairthread tourniquet syndrome htts, coined in 1988 by barton et al. The term hair tourniquet syndrome hts was coined by barton et al in 1988. Hair tourniquet syndrome has been reported as early as 1850 1, 2. I just dont see why it would be listed under hair tourniquet. Hair tourniquets pediatrics clerkship the university. Commonly affected parts of the body include fingers, toes and penis 6,7. It usually occurs in children under the age of one year.
Toe, tourniquet, child, hair, gangrene introduction toe tourniquet syndrome, also called hair thread tourniquet. Strangulation of the clitoris by cotton fluff another. It is a sporadically reported condition, where almost all reported cases showed involvement of fingers, toes or genitalia. This syndrome has been described as involving the fingers, the toes and even the. Description characterized by the tight wrapping of an appendage such as fingers, toes, or even genitalia with hair or hairlike materials i. Hairthread tourniquet syndrome in an infant with bony erosion. Although hair tourniquet syndrome is classically described in younger infants, there has been reports of its occurrence in elderly population above 6th decade, in a case report a 9 year old as reported by okeke et al 2009 2, 8, 9. If not diagnosed early, it can lead to devastating sequelae and even loss of a vital organ. Toetourniquet syndrome is a rare entity which is caused by hair wrapped around a toe or a digit. Most cases of hair tourniquet syndrome occur in young children, with fi. A significant number of the cases are infants aged two weeks to six months where it is attributed to the mothers excessive hair fall due. Hair tourniquet syndrome hts is a relatively rare condition in which a strand of hair wraps around and strangulates an appendage, which frequently affects the pediatric population.
The best sleeping position for back pain, neck pain, and sciatica tips from a physical therapist duration. Hair tourniquet syndrome, ijar indian journal of applied. Essentially, any appendage may be involved by this disease. Hairthread tourniquet syndrome htts is defined as the ischaemic strangulation of an appendage caused by an encircling band of hair or thread. The hair thread tourniquet syndrome is a disease in which a hair or filament becomes wrapped around an endperfusion appendage, thereby limiting adequate venous and lymphatic drainage of that tissue. Poor genital hygiene has also been suggested as a possible cause. Mar 29, 2019 because hair tourniquet syndrome can cause your baby to feel a lot of pain, the doctor treating it will most likely administer some sort of anesthesia prior to removing the hair tourniquet. Most cases of hair tourniquet syndrome occur in young children, with fi nger wrapping seen most commonly at. Toe tourniquet syndrome is a rare entity which is caused by hair wrapped around a toe or a digit. Hair tourniquet syndrome hts, an uncommonly recognized condition has gradually gained recognition since it was first described in1612 as hair thread tourniquet syndrome when a hair was found to be a strangulating agent of glans penis1, 2. Hair tourniquet syndrome of toes and fingers in infants sciencedirect. Generally, accidental strangulation by the patients or caregivers head hair is postulated, although child abuse should be suspected if convincing explanation is lacking.
International journal of medical and health sciences journal home page. These are namely tourniquet syndrome, toe tourniquet syndrome, hair thread tourniquet syndrome, hair tourniquet syndrome, hair coil strangulate syndrome or acquired constriction ring syndrome 4,5. Pdf the hair tourniquet syndrome is a rare disorder. This results in pain and swelling of the affected part. Oct 16, 2016 the best sleeping position for back pain, neck pain, and sciatica tips from a physical therapist duration. Hair one study did show that 95% of cases were due to hair.
It causes oedema, ischemia, necrosis and even amputation of digits of any structure strangulated by it. Toe, tourniquet, child, hair, gangrene introduction toetourniquet syndrome, also called hairthread tourniquet. Up to now 2 large case series have been published, the first one was. How hair tourniquet syndrome could cost your baby a toe parents. It is an important emergency condition where urgent attention is needed. There are almost 200 reported cases of hair tourniquet syndrome to date 2 with most involving the genitalia followed by toes, fingers and other sites 3. Article information, pdf download for near strangulation as a result of hair. Hair tourniquets pediatrics clerkship the university of. Hair thread tourniquet syndrome htts is a rare surgical emergency that occurs when one or more appendages are acutely circumferentially strangulated by human hair. Hair thread tourniquet syndrome htts is a rare condition where fibres constrict around appendages causing ischaemia and necrosis.
Hair tourniquets become very painful, so a baby who has one will likely cry a lot. The statistics would probably be increased if one were more aware of the existence of the characteristic clinical syndrome which may follow the application of a tourniquet and which is the subject of this paper. Reports of hair tourniquet syndrome involve various body parts including fingers, toes, clitoris, labia and penis 1, 2, 5, 6. Penile hair tourniquet syndrome is a relatively uncommon clinical situation. If you would like to study this condition any time, simply. Hair tourniquet syndrome is a rare condition occurring in children particularly young infants. Hairthread tourniquet syndrome is a rare disorder characterized by the encircling of an appendage by a hair or thread.
Treatment is prompt removal of the constricting hair or fiber. Looking for a hair tourniquet is a unique but important addition to any parent or caregivers checklist when. Toe tourniquet syndrome in association with maternal hair. Since a hair tourniquet was suspected, attempts were made to grasp the fiber with smallsized, blunt, and hookshaped instruments, and mosquito clamp, with no success. The syndrome was recognized long back but there have only been a few published reports in regard to the sequel it follows. Hts most often involves the toes, fingers, or penis. It is an emergency because failure to remove the tourniquet promptly can lead to pain, ischemia, and a serious infection or necrosis. The majority of cases involve infants that present early to the emergency department or primary health. The usual case presentation was an infant that had been crying in an inconsolable manner and upon careful examination was found to have a digit or a body part. Hair tourniquet syndrome is the ischemic strangulation of a part of a childs body due to human hair other fibrous material. Tourniquet paralysis syndrome jama surgery jama network.
The clinical entity known as hair tourniquet syndrome was described long ago and occurs when a piece of hair or thread is tightly wrapped around an appendage, such as the digits or genitalia. A frequently unrecognized and potentially devastating form of penile strangulation is that caused by human hair. In order to prevent this condition to happen, education of parents and clinicians is a cornerstone. It is reportedly seen among infant, toddler and even adolescent. If left untreated it may induce prolonged ischaemia, resulting in tissue necrosis or autoamputation of the affected digit. Cureus hair thread tourniquet syndrome in an infant. Hair tourniquet syndrome is a clinical phenomenon that involves hair or. Hair tourniquet syndrome is a relatively rare finding in infants. Many advocate for this condition to be termed constricting tourniquet or hair thread tourniquet. The quiz and worksheet aid in checking your understanding of hair tourniquet syndrome. The strand of hair compressing the toe lay deeper than expected. Immediate removal of hair is an effective treatment method to save appendage.
1160 872 847 292 1413 533 38 1089 442 365 1369 116 675 507 515 195 1109 768 1096 968 686 414 1471 1147 553 1445 54 1402 1206 410 881 672 662 1173 503 671 1240 696 1078 563 1412 1372 694 564