Can washing socks without flipping inside out cause hair tourniquet syndrome? A claim with two case reports.

Abstract

Hair tourniquet syndrome (HTS) is a rare, painful condition that results when hair or pieces of thread become wrapped tightly around toes, fingers, or other appendages, occluding blood flow and causing strangulation or amputation. Although the aetiology of HTS is unclear, we postulate that washing baby socks in a washing machine without turning them inside out might be a cause. Mothers should be informed about HTS and this simple prevention method should be suggested to them. Here, we present two cases of HTS and discuss possible causes.