Hair Coil Penile Tourniquet Syndrome in an Unusual Age

In 2015, a case report detailed an unusual instance of penile tourniquet syndrome (PTS) in an 8-year-old boy, a condition typically seen in infants aged 0-6 years and often caused by hair coil injury. The boy presented with swelling of the glans penis and sulcus coronarius, which was found to be caused by his mother's hair wrapped around the penis. This condition, commonly resulting from telogen effluvium (excessive hair loss) in postpartum women, had not been previously reported in this age group. The hair coil was surgically removed under general anesthesia, and the patient recovered fully within three weeks. The report emphasized the importance of considering PTS in the differential diagnosis when symptoms like penile edema and demarcation lines are observed, regardless of the patient's age, to avoid misdiagnosis and ensure prompt treatment. The case also highlighted that PTS could be a forensic issue in instances of suspected child abuse or malpractice.