Hair Tourniquet Syndrome of the Penis: A Case Report and Review of Literature

Abstract

Penile tourniquet syndrome caused by hair coil is often an underdiagnosed clinical entity with severe potential complications including urethro-cutaneous fistulas, necrosis of the glans and partial or complete amputation of the glans. The first reported case of this entity dates back to the early 16th century; yet surprisingly, the condition is under-recognized and is rarely mentioned in textbooks. In this report, the case of a circumcised 4-year-old boy who presented with hair tourniquet syndrome of the penis is described and a comprehensive review of the literature is discussed.