Penile Hair Tourniquet Syndrome (PHTS): A Case Report of a Two-Year-Old Boy

Abstract

Penile hair tourniquet syndrome (PHTS) is an unusual phenomenon. A physician should have a high index of suspicion when a circumcised child presents with glans swelling and inflammation. It must be considered a surgical emergency, as early diagnosis and treatment can prevent complications (e.g., urethra-cutaneous fistula, complete urethral transection, penile gangrene, and penile amputation). We report a case of two-year-old boy to highlight the importance of early diagnosis and prompt treatment.

Hair-Thread Tourniquet Syndrome: A Comprehensive Review

“…This has been linked to HTTS, as the constricting bands tend to get wrapped around the exposed coronal sulcus of a circumcised child [ 8 ].…”

“…Though many case reports have been published in the literature, the syndrome has not received the recognition it deserves and is hardly discussed in textbooks. Consequently, the condition goes unrecognized and misdiagnosed by primary care physicians, leading to serious outcomes [ 8 , 9 ]. The majority of cases are unintentional, but there is always a chance that child abuse may be overlooked as accidental, or else unintentional cases may be wrongly labeled as child abuse, especially when multiple appendages are involved [ 10 ].…”