Hair-Thread Tourniquet Syndrome: A Case Report and Literature Review
January 2012
in “
Case Reports in Medicine
”
TLDR Hair-thread Tourniquet Syndrome, where hair or thread tightly wraps around a body part, is not rare and requires early detection to prevent serious damage.
The document reported on Hair-thread Tourniquet Syndrome (HTTS), a condition where a hair or thread wraps tightly around an appendage, leading to constriction and possible tissue damage. It presented a case of an infant with a swollen digit due to a constricting hair, which was resolved by cutting the hair. The review indicated that HTTS is often missed and can affect different body parts, mainly digits and genitalia, with children around 5.5 months old being the most affected. The condition may be linked to mothers experiencing postnatal hair loss. Diagnosis is difficult, sometimes requiring surgical intervention, and delayed recognition can lead to severe consequences like amputation. The document stressed the need for increased awareness among healthcare providers and parents for early detection and treatment, and to differentiate HTTS from child abuse. The authors concluded that while HTTS is not widespread, it is also not uncommon, and vigilance is key for early management.
