Hair-Thread Tourniquet Syndrome

The document reports a rare case of hair-thread tourniquet syndrome in a 14-year-old autistic girl, where a hair strand caused ischemic strangulation of her labia majora. This syndrome, first described in 1612, has been associated with various causes, including child abuse and cultural practices, but remains poorly understood and likely multifactorial. A literature review of 37 articles, encompassing 90 cases, revealed that the syndrome most commonly affects toes (47%), followed by fingers (20%), the penis (25%), and external genitalia (6%). The case presented is unique due to the patient's age, her autism, and the involved tissue. The study suggests that the syndrome's occurrence and affected appendage are related to the patient's age, reflecting developmental stages. The authors argue against automatically associating the syndrome with child abuse, emphasizing the need for further understanding of its etiology.