Hair toe tourniquet syndrome in a four-year-old boy

Hair toe tourniquet syndrome is a condition in which a hair or thread encircles a digit and results in acute digital ischemia. It usually occurs in children under the age of 1 year. Prompt recognition and surgical removal of the constricting material can save the digit from irreversible tissue necrosis and the loss of digit.

We report the first known case of hair toe tourniquet syndrome in a 4-year-old child, who had successful diagnosis and treatment of this condition.

We suggest that hair toe tourniquet syndrome should be considered as a cause of acute digital swelling and discoloration in children of all ages.