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Preoperative plain radiographs confirming slight indentation on the radial bone (arrows). A Anteroposterior view. B Lateral view.
Source publication
Rubber band syndrome is a relatively rare disease in which a rubber band around a limb becomes embedded under the skin, resulting in tissue damage. Most reported cases are in children, and its occurrence in adults is considered extremely rare. We present a case of a 71-year-old patient with cognitive impairment, in whom a rubber band around the wri...
Context in source publication
Context 1
... and a skin ulcer on the side of the palmar joint (Fig. 1). Blood tests indicated a white blood cell count of 8,290/mL with 69% neutrophils, C-reactive protein level of 0.05 mg/dL, and blood glucose level of 102 mg/dL. There were no findings indicative of infection or diabetes. Plain radiography confirmed a slight indentation on the radial bone (Fig. 2). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed edematous changes in the whole hand, entrapment of the median nerve in the wrist joint, and a cord-like object compressing the wrist (Fig. 3). This led to the suspicion of constriction of the wrist joint by a cord-like object; therefore, an emergency surgery was ...
Similar publications
The congenital constriction band syndrome (CCBS) is a group of fetal abnormalities with myriad of clinical presentation that is characterized by the presence of a fibrous band that encircles fetal tissues in utero. It is a rare disease with a reported incidence of 1/15,000 live births. The disease is treated with release of the constricting band wi...
Citations
... [6,7] The severity of complications such as tendon, neurovascular, and bone injuries depends on the depth of impact by the rubber band, which is influenced by various factors such as the size of the afflicted site, size, and durability of the rubber band, and the amount of the time elapsed between the onset of symptoms and the removal of the band. [8] Tracheocutaneous fistula has been reported 8 years after the forgotten rubber band in the neck. [9] Early diagnosis and treatment are crucial in preventing severe complications and preserving limb function. ...
Rubber band syndrome (RBS) is a rare condition that occurs in children who wear rubber bands around their wrists for decorative or religious purposes. Over a period of time, the rubber bands have the potential to pierce through the skin and soft tissues, causing constriction and damage to the underlying structures. We present the case of a 4-year-old boy with painless swelling of the right wrist, which was later diagnosed as RBS. This case highlights the importance of raising awareness about the potential dangers of wearing rubber bands on the wrist and the need for prompt diagnosis and management to prevent further complications.
... The majority of cases described in the literature pertain to the involvement of the wrist joint with very few instances describing the involvement of the neck and ankle joints. [4,7,8] Further, most cases have been reported in the pediatric age group below 6 yrs of age from the Indian subcontinent owing to religious ceremonies of tying bands on wrists, with rare cases involving adults from outside India. [2,5,7] soft tissue, the distal radius at the meta-epiphyseal junction, around ulnar and radial styloid, radio-carpal, inter-carpal & all carpometacarpal joints. ...
... [4,7,8] Further, most cases have been reported in the pediatric age group below 6 yrs of age from the Indian subcontinent owing to religious ceremonies of tying bands on wrists, with rare cases involving adults from outside India. [2,5,7] soft tissue, the distal radius at the meta-epiphyseal junction, around ulnar and radial styloid, radio-carpal, inter-carpal & all carpometacarpal joints. ...
A BSTRACT
There are instances when elastic/thread bands are worn on the wrist, especially in infants or children in certain communities for either decorative or religious purposes. In case, it is worn for a long time, it burrows through the skin and soft tissues while going completely un-noticed, causing constriction and resulting in distal edema and loco-regional infection. The rare case discussed here is of a 3 years old female child who presented with circumferential constriction, swelling, and discharging sinuses around the right wrist for 7 months. The case was diagnosed on MRI and subsequently successfully managed surgically. The clinico-radiologic features and details of the case are discussed herein.
... Young children, older individuals and people with cognitive disability do not understand the risk of having a rubber band in place, they have difficulty communicating, or they are unclear on the process of injury that could occur because of problems with memory. 16 A high index of suspicion is required to diagnose Rubber Band Syndrome in cases, especially in young children, older individuals and people with cognitive impairment, presenting with linear, circumferential scar having compression symptoms. It may easily be misdiagnosed as a case of hypertrophic scar and managed accordingly with reconstructive procedures, but to no favourable outcome. ...
Elastic bands or threads are worn on the wrist, ankle, fingers and sometimes neck, in many religious societies of India as part of their rituals or decorative purpose. It tends to stay hidden in the skin crease. When worn for a long duration, there is gradual, painless penetration of the band through the soft tissue. In neglected cases, re-epithelisation of skin over the buried band occurs. There is subsequent soft tissue infection and features suggestive of compression of the underlying connective tissue. In this article, we present a series of three cases with Rubber Band Syndrome, difficult to diagnose due to forgotten history. They were confirmed to have been suffering from Rubber Band Syndrome only after intra-operative finding of an embedded elastic band in soft tissue during surgical exploration. The buried rubber band was removed and circumferential fibrous tissue were excised followed by physiotherapy and rehabilitation. Aim was to emphasize on need of maintaining a high index of suspicion to diagnose Rubber Band Syndrome in cases, especially in young children, older individuals and people with cognitive impairment, presenting with linear, circumferential scar having compression symptoms. Surgical removal of buried rubber band was successful in all cases. Post-operative follow-up over a mean period of one year have shown a surprisingly good outcome with respect to limb function. A high index of suspicion is required to diagnose Rubber Band Syndrome in cases, especially in young children, older individuals and people with cognitive impairment, presenting with linear, circumferential scar having compression symptoms. It can be treated permanently by a simple surgery of foreign body removal and excision of circumferential fibrous tissue followed by physiotherapy and rehabilitation.
Rubber band or Dhaga syndrome is a rare condition commonly present in infants or toddlers of specific communities who wear bracelets or sacred thread for religious or decorative purposes. It was first described by Hogeboom and Stephens in 1961. We report a case of a 2-year-old girl who came to our institution with swelling, inflammation, and pain in her right wrist. We describe the clinical-radiological presentation of this rare disease with intra-operative findings.
Rubber band syndrome is a condition that usually affects children because of wearing a rubber band on the wrist or the ankle. Depending on the degree of pressure caused by the band, patients may present acutely with ischemia and necrosis of the tissues distal to the bands or chronically with change in shape, oedema, loss of function, sensation and rarely amputation. This condition is very rare in adults and most reports in literature are in patients with cognitive impairment or psychiatric illness. We report 62-year-old lady with a background of a psychiatric illness who presented with an acquired constriction band syndrome affecting multiple digits of both hands.
Level of Evidence: Level V (Therapeutic)
