Hair-Thread Tourniquet Syndrome: Emergent Diagnosable Condition

Hair-Thread Tourniquet Syndrome (HTTS) is a rare emergency condition that typically affects infants and children, where body parts like fingers, toes, or external genitalia are strangled by threads or human hair, potentially leading to necrosis if not treated early. The annual incidence is 0.02%, primarily affecting children between 12 days to 6 months old. The most commonly affected areas are the penis (44.2% of cases), toes (40.4%), fingers (8.57%), and other sites (6.83%). The cause is usually accidental, but intentional cases related to child abuse are possible. Cultural differences in HTTS occurrence have been noted, with fewer cases in Iranian patients compared to Europe. Diagnosis is primarily clinical, and treatment involves removing the constricting material. Prevention strategies include parent and healthcare provider education, separate washing of mother's and infant's clothes, and regular examination of the infant's appendages.