MRI diagnosis of rubber band constriction syndrome

David Sosnouski; Russell W Chapin; Paul G Thacker; Zeke J Walton; James F Mooney

doi:10.1016/j.radcr.2020.04.039

MRI diagnosis of rubber band constriction syndrome

Radiol Case Rep. 2020 May 13;15(7):999-1001. doi: 10.1016/j.radcr.2020.04.039. eCollection 2020 Jul.

Authors

David Sosnouski¹, Russell W Chapin², Paul G Thacker³, Zeke J Walton⁴, James F Mooney⁵

Affiliations

¹ Department of Radiology, McFarland Clinic, Ames, IA, USA.
² Department of Radiology and Radiological Science, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
³ Mayo Clinic, Department of Radiology, 200 First Street SW, Rochester, MN 55905, USA.
⁴ Department of Orthopedics and Physical Medicine, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA.
⁵ Shriners Hospitals for Children, Springfield, MA, USA.

Abstract

Rubber band syndrome is caused by constriction of the wrist from elastic bracelets worn for decorative purposes. Overtime, the fixed or elastic band burrows into the skin and becomes invisible. We present the case of a 2.5-year-old female child presenting to our institution with signs of circumferential swelling and inflammatory changes about the right wrist. MRI of the wrist demonstrated a subcutaneous circular foreign body, which was confirmed at surgery to be a rubber band. Although this disease entity is rare, radiologists can be instrumental in suggesting this diagnosis based on the location involved, ie, wrist, and the imaging findings.

Keywords: Bracelet; Children; MRI; Rubber band; Wrist.

Publication types

Case Reports