Removal of a tungsten carbide wedding ring with a diamond tipped dental drill

A Method for the Removal of Tungsten Carbide Rings

“…The non-destructive techniques include: lubricated pull, suture reign longitudinal traction, icing, compression, exsanguination, rubber bands, string technique, and combinations of the above, among others (4-9). The previously described destructive techniques (motorized and manual toothed cutting wheels, motorized abrasive discs, bolt cutters) will not work on TC rings (1,4). Although diamond-abrasive discs, diamond-tipped dental drills, and diamond bur (as seen in high-speed air turbine hand pieces) can cut TC, they are not readily available in many EDs (1,10).…”

“…The incredible hardness of TC poses a potential problem for people wearing TC rings who require emergent ring removal, because many of the cutting tools available in Emergency Departments (EDs) cannot safely and quickly remove these rings (1). Failure to recognize these properties may result in unnecessary delays and could jeopardize digit viability.…”

“…Nearly as hard as diamonds, TC is widely used in industry, from cutting tools to machine metals: it is the metal of which many of the knives that carve metal are made (1).…”

Finger trapped in door latch removed using an electric saw. A new technique and review of other techniques

“…These require either manual cutters or powered cutting devices. Ricks 15 and Sazwan 16 et al in separate reports described the removal of hardened metal ring by a diamondtipped dental burr. Taylor and Boyd 4 also describe the use of dental volvere for removal of a hard metal auto part stuck on an injured finger.…”

Evaluation of a two rubber band technique for finger ring removal

“…3,4 Rings that are difficult to remove frequently present a challenge to the clinician 5 and upset to the patient, who would rather not have the ring cut off. 3,4 Many techniques (both traumatic 2,[5][6][7][8] and atraumatic 1,[9][10][11][12] to the ring) have been reported in the literature. Wrapping techniques, 1,11,13,14 oedema management 9 and cutting the ring 2,6-8 have all been described.…”