WCY Wan, MM Yau, DCY Lau, KF Huen, LTW Chan

Abstract

Hair tourniquet syndrome is rare, referring to a condition when hair, thread or fiber wraps tightly around an infant's appendage causing a tourniquet effect, carrying a potential risk of permanent tissue damage or loss of appendage secondary to the strangulation. We report a young infant having hair tourniquet syndrome at the toe, with complete removal of the offending hair resulting in full recovery, however, no explanation for the strangulation identified. Possibility of child abuse and neglect has to be seriously considered for most if not all cases.