title: A latex finger strip and nylon zip-tie combo as a tunable digital tourniquet.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Surgery on digit and nail requires a clear bloodless field that is often achieved by a tourniquet.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The objective is to present a simple, effective, and safe tourniquet for digital surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  A latex glove and a nylon zip-tie were used. A long strip is cut from the little finger tube of a latex glove. This is used for wrapping around the digit for exsanguination. The pressure is then maintained with a household nylon zip-tie. The finger strip is then cut to expose the operative field ready for surgery. The tourniquet pressure can be adjusted by tightening or loosening of the nylon zip-tie.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exsanguination and a bloodless field can be effectively achieved. The long tail of the nylon zip-tie reminds the operator to remove it at end of the surgery.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A latex strip and nylon zip-tie combo serves as a simple, effective, and safe tourniquet for digital surgery.
authors.affiliation: Dermatology Research Center, Department of Medicine & Therapeutics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong. tangwym@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: William Yuk Ming
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Tang
mesh_terms: D005385:Fingers; D005932:Gloves, Surgical; D006488:Hemostasis, Surgical / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007840:Latex; D009757:Nylons; D014111:Tourniquets
chemical_list: D007840:Latex; D009757:Nylons