An Improved Method of Ring Removal
A number of techniques exist for the removal of rings from swollen fingers. An improved method is described using ribbon gauze and a paper clip. It is cheap, quick and effective and can be used in the presence of minor lacerations and abrasions.
Evaluation of a two rubber band technique for finger ring removal.
INTRODUCTION
Rings are required to be removed from a finger in many clinical situations. Rings that are difficult to remove is a problem encountered frequently. Many techniques have been reported for this problem. This study looks at the effectiveness of a single technique for removing difficult rings from fingers.


METHODS
A two rubber band technique was used in this study of 69 difficult to remove rings. Success of the technique and time to removal were recorded.


RESULTS
Difficult rings were removed in 92.5% of cases, in a mean time of 10.7 seconds. No fingers or rings suffered damage during the study.


CONCLUSIONS
This two rubber band technique is a rapid, safe and effective method for removing rings that cannot be removed easily.
The value of soft tissue signs in wrist trauma.
A retrospective study of the wrist radiographs of 1453 patients presenting with acute wrist trauma was undertaken in order to assess the value of soft tissue signs. A total of 773 radiographs which were judged to be normal were used to evaluate the normal pronator quadratus fat stripe. The distance of the normal pronator fat stripe from the radius was shown to be significantly lower in females than in males and increased with age. The increase with age was greater in males. Although most fractures were associated with some soft tissue abnormality, certain fractures, especially greenstick fractures in children, had normal soft tissue planes. Only 4% of the wrists examined had soft tissue abnormalities with no visible fracture. The presence of soft tissue signs should therefore be considered with suspicion when evaluating wrist radiographs in trauma, but the absence of signs does not necessarily exclude a fracture.