Hair tourniquet syndrome of the clitoris and labia minora: Report of three cases and review of the literature

Hair tourniquet syndrome (HTS) is a rare condition and may pose diagnostic dilemma. The purpose of this study is to report our experience in 3 female cases with HTS involving genitalia. All the patients in this series presented with swollen and edematous genitalia and clitoris accompanied by strangulation in clitoris or labia minora with a hair thread. Strangulating hair was excised and removed under local anesthesia. The pain was cleared away and edematous discoloration disappeared immediately. Local application of antibiotic ointment was added to the treatment in these cases for a period of 6-7 days. The anatomy of the genitalia was found to be normal in these children during the follow up exam. A brief literature review on this subject is also given in this review. Key Words: Hair tourniquet syndrome, clitoris, labia minora, strangulation.