II. Indications
- Ring trapped on a swollen finger
III. Technique: General
- Elevate the finger
- Apply a Skin Lubricant
- Soap and water
- Lubricating Jelly (e.g. surgilube)
- Strap compression technique (see below)
- Ring cutter
IV. Technique: Strap compression technique (preferred)
- Obtain long, narrow strap or string (best if elastic narrow strap)
- Oxygen mask strap (or other narrow elastic band)
- Penrose drain (1/4 inch)
- Phlebotomy tubing
- Umbilical tape
- Silk ties
- Kite string
- Wrap the finger tightly
- Thread the strap or string under the ring
- Apply tight, close loops spiraling proximally from ring distally
- Continue wrapping until the most swollen parts of finger are compressed
- Remove the ring
- Unwrap the strap/string from the proximal end
- As the strap or string is unwound the ring is pulled over the swollen tissue
V. Technique: Titanium Ring Removal using vice grip
- Precautions
- Titanium rings will not typically respond to standard techniques (e.g. ring cutters)
- Wear Eye Protection (titanium parts will disperse widely)
- When gradually applied with this technique, the vice grip shatters the ring without finger injury
- Apply vice grip
- Adjust vice grip so that closes and locks without significant force over ring
- Gradually tighten the vice grip
- Tighten the vice grip 1/4 turn, reapply and clamp to locking position, then release
- Continue to tighten, test and rotate clamp position in stepwise fashion until the ring shatters
- Resources
- YouTube Video of Technique
VI. Resources
- Oxygen Mask Strap technique
Images: Related links to external sites (from Bing)
Related Studies (from Trip Database) Open in New Window
| Concepts | Therapeutic or Preventive Procedure (T061) |
| SnomedCT | 426509009 |
| English | Removal of ring from digit of hand (procedure), Removal of ring from digit of hand |
| Spanish | remoción de anillo de dedo de la mano (procedimiento), remoción de anillo de dedo de la mano |
