Successful removal of a penile constriction wedding ring in a rural area.

BACKGROUND Penile strangulation is a rarely described medical emergency. Removal of the strangulating object is challenging, with a lack of proper guidelines. OBJECTIVE To describe the challenges faced during an attempt to urgently remove a metal object (wedding ring) constricting an erect penis. METHODS We report a case of penile strangulation with a wedding ring in an adult man who presented at Van Velden Hospital casualty department, Limpopo, South Africa, and review the related literature. RESULT The ring was successfully removed using an aspiration technique (via a pink needle). CONCLUSION No proper guidelines exist for the treatment of this condition, so the 'best method' is the one with a successful outcome.