Objective: Describe the correlates of tourniquet syndromes, analyze family social situation to detect neglectful behaviors and analyze the tracking of subsequent Pediatric Emergency Department (PED) admissions to identify at risk families. Material and methods: From January 1, 2003 to December 31, 2007 all patients admitted to the PED for tourniquet syndrome were included. Collected data were: day and time of admission, length of stay, age, sex, referral character of admission, medical coverage, nature and location of the constrictive agent, therapeutic management, evolution and complications. Social workers of the PED in conjunction with child protective services (CPS) recovered information about the family social situation. An IRB approval was not required or waived. Results: During the study period, 41 children were registered. The mean annual admission was equal to 8. The mean age was equal to 5.5+/-4 months. The toe was the most frequent location (93%). The penis was injured in two cases. The constrictive agent was often a hair (95%). One case of abuse was detected. The analysis of family social situations showed that 21 families had no or incomplete medical coverage, nine of them were already followed by CPS, sixteen with isolation of extreme precarity, and confirmed lack of hygiene or neglect. The analysis of 2003-2006 period (36 children) for posterior admissions identified fourteen domestic accidents in ten children. Of these families, half were already known to CPS for neglectful behavior. Conclusion: Although most tourniquet syndromes seem accidental, we highly recommend systematic intervention of social workers and child protective services to help the detection of neglectful behavior.