**One Hell of a Haircut: Doctors Remove Massive Hairball from 10-Year-Old Girl’s Stomach in Pune**
Doctors in Pune, India, recently performed a remarkable surgery on a 10-year-old girl to remove a 10-ounce hairball from her stomach—equivalent in size to a roll of paper towels. The young patient was diagnosed with “Rapunzel syndrome,” a rare digestive disorder caused by the compulsion to pull out and consume one’s own hair.
### What is Rapunzel Syndrome?
Rapunzel syndrome occurs when indigestible strands of hair combine with mucus and food in the stomach to form a dense mass known as a trichobezoar. Over time, these hairballs can grow large enough to extend into the small intestine. If left untreated, they can cause serious complications including infection, intestinal obstruction, ulceration, and nutritional deficiencies.
### A Complex Case With an Unusual Twist
In this recent case, the tail-like mass of hair and cotton extended from the child’s stomach into her small intestine and even reached her gallbladder—a finding that is extremely rare. Dr. Kalpesh Patil, a pediatric and neonatal laparoscopic surgeon who led the surgical team, explained:
> “She had been experiencing intermittent abdominal pain for nearly ten months, with no relief from conservative treatment. Upon admission on October 8, clinical examination revealed a large, hard mass palpable across the upper abdomen.”
The emergency surgery lasted approximately 2.5 hours, during which Dr. Patil and his team successfully extracted the giant hairball. He noted that while Rapunzel syndrome itself is rare, the presence of hair in the gallbladder is virtually unheard of.
### Understanding the Rarity and Risks
Rapunzel syndrome was first classified in 1968, and since then, fewer than 100 cases have been reported worldwide. The condition primarily affects females aged between 13 and 19, making this case involving a 10-year-old especially unusual.
The syndrome arises from a combination of two disorders: trichotillomania (the compulsive pulling out of hair from the scalp or other body parts) and trichophagia (the compulsive eating of hair). According to studies, between 0.5% and 3% of people experience trichotillomania during their lifetime; of those, 10% to 30% also have trichophagia. However, only about 1% of individuals with both conditions develop a trichobezoar in their gastrointestinal tract.
### Importance of Psychiatric Evaluation and Follow-up
Dr. Patil emphasized the critical role of early psychological diagnosis in managing Rapunzel syndrome. Anxiety, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and depression are often underlying causes.
> “Along with surgery and follow-up treatments, we have recommended a psychiatric evaluation for the girl. While recurrence of the hairball is rare, it remains possible if the psychiatric condition is left untreated,” Dr. Patil stated.
### Recovery and Current Status
Post-surgery, the patient was admitted to the pediatric ICU. After confirming there were no leaks in her gastrointestinal tract, oral feeding commenced. About a week after surgery, she passed a tangle of threads in her stool, which Dr. Patil explained was likely residual material from the intestinal tract.
The girl’s condition has since stabilized. She is now tolerating food well and was discharged from the hospital on October 29.
### A Dangerous but Unusual Condition
Though rare, Rapunzel syndrome can be life-threatening. In 2021, a British teenager underwent surgery to remove a foot-and-a-half-long hairball that had grown so large it formed a complete cast of her stomach, severely damaging her internal organs.
—
This extraordinary case from Pune highlights the need for awareness about rare psychiatric and digestive disorders and the importance of timely intervention to prevent serious complications.
https://nypost.com/2025/11/10/health/10-year-old-girl-has-10-oz-hairball-removed-from-her-stomach/