An Edinburgh mum has warned other parents about the dangers of Tourniquet Syndrome after her baby daughter nearly lost two toes. Gemma Fraser discovered a strand of her own hair had bound her three-month-old's toes together, gradually tightening like cheese wire and cutting off circulation.
Ms Fraser noticed the problem during a nappy change last June, when her daughter Orla's toes had turned purple and were bulging. Unable to remove the hair herself, she called an ambulance. A paramedic spent 45 minutes trying to cut the hair away before Orla was taken to the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh for further checks.
One toe healed over the following weeks, but the other remained an open wound, with pus developing. After several visits to the GP and hospital, Orla was referred to a plastic surgeon, who operated without general anaesthetic due to her age. The surgeon used an anaesthetic wipe and thoroughly cleaned the wound while Ms Fraser held her screaming daughter. The surgery took place five weeks after the hair was first spotted.
Speaking on BBC Radio Scotland, Ms Fraser said she was shocked at how common the condition is, with images of children who have had toes amputated. She explained that hair can become trapped in socks and babygrows during washing. Midwife Cass McNamara added that tourniquets can also be caused by strands from wool blankets or loose threads, and urged parents to check babies daily, especially if they seem fractious.
