Strangulation of an Appendage by Hair Wrapping

Abstract

THE purpose of this report is to call attention to human hair as a potential source of injury to young children. The 3 cases described concern children with constriction of an appendage by a band of human hair. In each, the resulting signs of local inflammation were not immediately recognized as being due to a foreign body, which in this case was human hair. Failure to recognize and remove the hair could have resulted in amputation of the appendage. Fortunately, all 3 of these children received medical care in time to prevent ischemic necrosis and gangrene, and in each case . . .