HOW TO REMOVE A RING STUCK ON A FINGER!

Hi everyone, this week I have a slightly different video for you all. As a part of my away rotation project, I am making a video to contribute to the growing community of FOAM. FOAM stands for FREE OPEN ACCESS MEDUCATION (OR MEDICAL EDUCATION). It is basically a collection of FREE medical education resources that can be accessed online by students and healthcare professionals. It exists in several different forms including but not limited to podcasts, blog entries, online videos, and so much more.
In this video I talk about how to remove stuck rings in the emergency department. There are several different techniques and a good physical exam and clinical judgement should be used to pick the best method for a given situation.
Some of my favorite emergency medicine FOAM resources:
lifeinthefastlane.com/
rebelem.com/
www.aliem.com/
www.emrap.org/
References from this video:
Inoue S, Akazawa S, Fukuda H, Shimizu R. Another simple method for ring removal. Anesthesiology 1995;83:1133-4.
Kalkan A, et al. Review of techniques for the removal of trapped rings on fingers with a proposed new algorithm, American Journal of Emergency Medicine (2013), http:..dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.ajem.2013.06.2009.
McElfresh, Ec, Peterson-Elijah RC. Removal of a right ring by the rubber band. J Hand Surg [Br] 1991;16:225-6.
Thilagarajah M. An improved method of ring removal. J Hand Surg [Br] 1999;24:118-9.

[@beardsscrubs3062]

I've actually seen the string wrap method done in person and the woman was so relieved that her ring wasn't cut off. Sometimes it's all about the little victories in medicine.

[@nallisanketh]

Very useful during break ups

[@HooliganBMars]

*watches video to end despite not having a ring stuck on my finger cos fav Med KZbinr*

[@korviscapetrova5269]

Sameeeeee

[@yusra3214]

Amazing video 👌🏻love to see you doing these kinds of videos because you just sound more and more like a professional physician each time. Love your channel ❤️

[@computergeek7343]

hey I have watched all of your videos and you are managing your time very smartly I love your channel keep up the good work.

[@cindylau2281]

Hi! Your video was a life saver! It helped me get 2 rings off my left hand after it swelled up due to some inflammation. The dental floss trick didn't work for me, but the surgical glove did the trick!! I put some lotion around the bottom of my finger, too, which helped the ring slide up the glove. I was so stressed. This saved me a trip to ER. Thank you!! I see this video was made in 2017. You're probably a successful ER doctor by now (2023). All the best to you! : )

[@esraareda2755]

Notification SQUADDDD !!! love u Jamie 💘💘💘💘 the surgical glove got me falling of the bed. I wish i'd knew it sooner.

[@Peter-sb1dg]

My wife's finger swelled up trapping her 39 years old "Russian" (3 interlocking gold bands) wedding ring. I tried using the "elastic tape" wrapping system to get ring off but poking the elastic between the swollen finger and the three bands of gold with scissors/tweezers was painful, so instead, I got a 8-10 inch piece of copper wire, bent it double and slipped it under the ring before starting to wrap (a little curvature built in along the length of the wire helped lift the loop of wire away from the finger after it was passed under the ring). I wrapped the finger and when finished wrapping, simply pushed the loose end of the elastic through the loop in the copper wire and then withdrew the copper wire. The elastic was then pulled under the ring rather than having to be pushed and prodded through. This worked a treat, while the round wire meant that it had a blunt profile while passing under the ring so helping separate swollen flesh from metal as it went and making it easier to pass. Hope someone finds this helpful.

[@elizabethboctor793]

Saw this on the group you posted this on and was so confused because I saw it here on youtube first haha. I won't say which rotation you're doing, but I did the same one last year. Enjoy it.

[@DavidHindin]

LOVE this one, Jamie! Much better than what we sometimes do at the hospital - i.e. cutting someone's ring off entirely :X

[@mariasevere]

Thanks Jamie! That was indeed a very interesting video. You dare a natural. Looking forward to more videos like this.

[@roxannejames7756]

Had to get my wedding ring off to prepare for surgery. String method never worked but the finger glove method DID! Thank you sooo much!

[@michaliaromer2675]

Surgical glove method worked like a charm on my swollen ring finger. Thanks a million.

[@bessofhardwick9311]

Thanks so much! Just managed to get a ring off my husband's finger. His finger was going purple. Thanks a million! I'm subscribing as a thank you :)

[@jennifern5903]

Thank you for making this video it really helped my dad to get his ring off!

[@miteyjan6]

Just removed a ring from our daughter's swollen finger due to a bug bite reaction. Homeopathic apis brought the swelling down and the surgical glove technique took care of the rest. Thanks so much!

[@Kincsokee11]

your new glasses (new for me) fit you perfectly!

[@kakakaylee5238]

love it! i hope there are more of these videos to come ☺️

[@farhatarig2608]

I absolutely loved this video...great work👍

[@chesneyallen4244]

I’ve seen the ring cutter and string techniques. Didn’t want to cut the ring, and the string method didn’t work for me after multiple tries. My finger was just too swollen. The glove method finally did the trick though!!! Thank you!

[@seeno73]

Thanks 🙏 just used the rubber glove technique and it worked perfectly 👍😀👍

[@theimperfectspiritualist5080]

YOU'RE DOING GREAT SWEETY

[@bobaflex666]

Thank you sooo much I used the rubber glove trick and it worked great. I thought it was not gonna come off but it came off easy and didn’t hurt! Thank you so much for this video my finger thanks you 🤣

[@divine4432]

Very interesting and good to know ! Thank you

[@alekhyaganti7940]

Surgical glove technique is good.I know only that draw string method.Nice video Jamie..!☺☺

[@tiresaleilua3696]

Can it be any disposable glove?

[@ThatMedic]

Had a horrible case of this with one of my patients!! I had to give him a ring block then use the electric saw 😅😅

[@redwatermelon17]

My sister had allergies and her hands were swollen so she went to the jewlery shop where she bought the ring and they've cut it nicely so they can put it back together so it looked like always! A lot of people go to the ER for this problem where they destroy their ring because, unfortunately, they don't know for this option! :)

[@eleonorabalode7482]

I loved this video, I would like to see something like that more😘

[@aasyaceagain]

Thank u love!! I just removed my ring Omg! It was still a bit tight but i managed to take it out with my teeth XD THANK U ♥️

[@jihadkarimi6888]

that was very helpful. thanks

[@Sweetpence]

String and rubber glove finger tip methods are my favorites...next would be the ring cutter in cases where the finger is much too swollen and is cutting off circulation. A ring can be fixed if cut (not always perfectly but, wearable) which I highly prefer to having my finger damaged in some way.

[@MedicEne]

This is awesome Jamie! How does one submit videos to Foam?

[@sarahmorrell4295]

Love your channel

[@sevans1414]

This is kind of a random question but what kind of necklace do you always wear? It's so pretty!! Thanks for posting all the helpful & interesting videos!

[@serinireddy7896]

Hi Jamie. This question is a bit off topic but I wanted to know if you could provide some advice on how you marketed your brand- I'm in the process of developing a new website for writers and would really appreciate some advice :) thanks for the great videos !

[@bellarose1304]

OMG! The string method actually worked. In my case, i had to use floss. Yeah sure it was painful🥺, but not nearly as painful as me trying to take it off myself(me and my fat fingers). I defiantly recommend trying this method after trying soap and oil.

[@MichaelBubbNYC]

Thnak you, Doctor - quick question - with the "string" method does a slight application of lubricant help?

[@K1370]

oh wow that's really cool

[@lydiak.7413]

Please please do more videos like this :)

[@abigailtrejo7255]

girl you are goals!

[@shivennaidoo1426]

Thanks so much👌💯

[@kaindika7349]

Thank you very much

[@598bg]

Omg the thumbnail really looked like something else at first sight😂😂😂😂😂

[@twixotic04]

lmao omg i thought the same!!

[@madisonl3401]

I need HELP! My thumb has a thick men's wedding band on it, it's been on since I was 12. In the last year my rheumatoid arthritis is getting really bad and my wrists and fingers are so swollen! The ring was difficult to get off in normal circumstances, now with the swelling it's seeming to be impossible. I've tried the string/floss method. I've tried lubing it up with oil or lotion. Nothing has worked. I'm going to try icing it and do the string method again but it's so frustrating because it's really tight and cutting off some circulation. I don't want to have to cut it off 😭

[@86sarad]

Did you get it off? My engagement ring is stuck on now and my whole hand and finger are swollen

[@susanalulu]

Thank you The glove trick worked

[@Rita-cj9em]

😁😁Please make more videos like this

[@complexity3324]

What if have my are fingers stuck in a Chinese finger trap will these tricks work?

[@SGallStaff10]

Zesty Beaver your profile photo made me think there was an eyelash on my screen

[@hajer659]

+SGallStaff10 same 😂

[@Pt_omalanood]

Like it so much 😍👍🏻👍🏻

[@C3yl0]

Awesome

[@adrianv5651]

I couldn’t help pls I haven’t told my mom it’s been 6hrs what should I do

[@scott151]

thanks.. from an RT

[@YSE2024]

I loved this video!!

[@amelbrini2611]

OMG I have tried alone many time and I failed. Now my finger became more swollen I didn t know what to do pleaaaase help :((((

[@jamiefalkins5805]

Tried the string method and it failed, BUT, the glove with some ice and elevation worked ! Took 3 rings off my gf's hand this morning !

[@myusetoob]

I have a swollen finger from a splinter that I can’t get out. I’ve had the ring on my finger for 35 years. It’s an 18k gold class ring that’s not round anymore. Gold is a soft metal and its bent. I’m screwed.

[@theimperfectspiritualist5080]

HIIII

[@ketishalikashvili6956]

♥️♥️♥️

[@jolet678]

Dawn dish soap worked for me

[@averykristen2537]

This would have been great to know before my ring had to get sawed off aha

[@aliciagonzalez1409]

Mi esposo lo corto un Alicante que corta las plantas porque eso del hilo y aceite màs bien me inflamo el dedo y entre en panico, ya me miraba con mi dedo cortado, pero gracias a mi heroe tengo dedo

[@sedoh3873]

*Can someone please answer this* I am 12 and this might sound stupid and irrelevant at my age but I want to be a neurosurgeon when I'm older but I am worried that my hands are not steady enough. My hands slightly move when I try to hold them as still as I can. Is this going to affect me when I want to become a surgeon?

[@jenjencurls]

Hugh Mungus I'm not a med student.. yet. But I would like to add my two cents. Nobody's hands are always perfectly still. If it is nothing excessive, you will do just fine. Even you have serious tremors, there are ways you can reduce them. Either way as time passes and you start practicing, you'll probably be able to control your hands more. Practice makes perfect. However, you are very young. Know that you may (and probably will) change your mind later. As you volunteer, or shadow, or do rotations, you may decide to go to a different specialty. You may even decide you don't want to be a doctor at all. Only time will tell. If you are sure you want that now, just do your best in school and stuff. Whatever you decide, being a good student and getting good grades is not a bad thing. It will help you no matter what you decide. Being determined and motivated, and working hard will get you wherever you want to be. Don't doubt yourself, and don't let small things stop you.

[@sedoh3873]

Poguito33 Very powerful words. Thank you.

[@DavidHindin]

You should be all set, Hugh. Part of learning good surgical technique is learning how to stabilize your own hands when you operate. Some of the best surgeons I know have a visible tremor at baseline - but you'd never realize it watching them in the OR !

[@sedoh3873]

David Hindin Thank you for your "2 cents".

[@smakcanada]

SLOW HOME RING REMOVAL (NO ER): Unfortunately trying to get a ring off often causes additional swelling of the finger. Stay calm. Put ice in a small bowl, put one piece of ice on the palm side on the finger with the ring on it. Rest the hand in the bowl of ice as long as possible. This will cause the swelling to come down at least somewhat. Alternate icing with holding the hand in the air. This will also cause swelling to abate. Gently turn the ring over the knuckle using soap or oily lotion to assist. Cutting ring should be last resort, but if your finger turns purple go to ER.

[@rifahkhan6317]

what is away rotation?

[@Supervoidablez]

I'm not a medical student so I could be wrong, but I think an away rotation is when you do medical rotations in hospitals away from your medical school, hence the name. Generally students do it near the end of medical school, either for the residency program you want to go into it's sort of like an audition, or just to gain more experience. I'm pretty sure about this but I could be wrong. Hope I helped though!

[@jennissingla]

You're right for the most part!! :) But the aspect of doing it near end of med school or as an audition for programs you want to go into is more what electives are for. Away rotations can start in 3rd year, beginning of clinicals, and you don't pick where you go, the school usually does. For us, we had away rotations at hospitals that specialized in certain specialities so we can do a rotation with more exposure and expertise around. Hope that helps! :)

[@Supervoidablez]

Ohhhhhhhhh. Thanks for clearing that up, I knew I missed something lol.

[@jennissingla]

:)

[@aghsan2007]

Unfortunately none of the methods worked for me need to wait until my finger swelling gets better then will try again 😢

[@kaitlynb17]

My mom broke her wrist a few years ago and they cut her ring off due to her hand being swollen. This would have been a much better solution.

[@Sana-jb5zu]

The doctors know there are multiple options and would have picked the best option for your mum :) We always try save the ring if we can!

[@MsLiliCPeach]

Sana and remember the ring can be repurchased, your mom cannot #materialvsmatter😊kaitlynb

[@kaitlynb17]

Ms Lili C. Peach thats very true! :)

[@juliosales2844]

Agora faça por favor faça um video sem enrolação; com um anel apertado de verdade e um dedo inchado de verdade, nessa condição aí mostrada nem precisa de coisa alguma pra retirar o anel.

[@bravefight7549]

the volume was low!

[@sophiehilsabeck5459]

first!

[@mbm98]

i always just rinse my hand under the sink with a load of soap hoho

[@evanlefebvre4254]

Ll r8

[@gporr7004]

Not an option for an extremely swollen finger. Tried it many times on my pregnant wife