As much as we wish we could, sometimes rings do need to be cut off, even though that is everyone's least favourite thing to do! Unfortunately, there are certain scenarios where no matter what you do, you have to remove the ring by cutting it. The ring once fit onto that finger, that’s how it got there, and attempting non-destructive removal is usually the best way to proceed; however, here are a few cases where cutting the ring is necessary:

1. When the knuckle is bigger than the ring...

The first case in which a ring must be removed destructively is when the bone itself, at the knuckle, is larger than the ring. You cannot shrink a bone no matter what you do (we wish that could be our next product launch 😆) 

Sometimes, years of wear and tear can cause arthritis; the most common being osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis causes pain, swelling, and limited movement. Overtime, the knuckle increases in size to the point where the bone has outgrown the size of the ring and it will not fit back over the knuckle. Unfortunately, when this is the case, the only solution is that the ring be cut off.

2. When the finger is at risk of severe strangulation…

In cases where the finger is being strangled and there is a risk of compromising the digit, we recommend you use your professional judgement in picking the most appropriate strategy given the situation, your past experiences with various methods, and the combination of tools you have available in order to come up with the best solution!

These cases are often quite difficult and complicated by extensive finger swelling. Sometimes, depending on the severity of strangulation, the first option is to cut the ring in order to decrease any permanent damage to the finger.

3. When the ring has been crushed or deformed...

There are cases in which there has been a prior injury or situation and the ring is no longer in its circular form. In these cases, the Compression Device can be helpful as it will shrink the finger and allow for more ease of manipulation and space for a ring cutter. However, depending how deformed the ring is, manipulation techniques may not be an option (imagine manipulating a tight ring in the shape of a pentagon!) and ring cutting may be necessary for ring removal.

4. When the patient is experiencing significant pain and swelling from an associated finger injury...

This pain could be due to a finger injury itself such as a broken finger, lacerations from previous injury, failed at-home removal attempts, etc. It is common for people to try rigorous pulling and manipulation techniques at home which causes more pain, swelling and damage to the skin - we call it the “Angry Finger”. In these cases, if the patient is unable to withstand manipulation techniques, the best option may be to cut the ring. 

However, with this said, there is an option for this specific case that may allow for non-destructive removal: a nerve block!

A digital nerve block can be used in hospitals to control and reduce pain in a specific area, such as the finger. When the nerve block is implemented it results in numbness in that area for a duration of time. This will lessen the discomfort for the patient enough to allow the professional to manipulate the ring off the finger. With the decreased finger size after the use of the Ring Rescue Compression Device, and proper manipulation techniques, the ring can successfully be removed without cutting!

For an example of this specific case, check out this YouTube video below

We do recommend that the Ring Rescue Compression Device be used in almost all cases, even if the best option is to cut the ring. This is because reducing the size of the finger by any amount can be beneficial when trying to remove a ring both non-destructively and destructively to make the ring cutting experience much more comfortable for the patient.

Check out our video below for more expert advice on cases when you might want to remove a ring destructively.