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Late complications of newborn circumcision: a common and avoidable problem
Rafael V Pieretti1, Allan M Goldstein, Rafael Pieretti-Vanmarcke
1Section of Pediatric Urology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, USA. rpieretti@gmail.com
Insights
Late complications from newborn circumcision are common, affecting 4.7% of cases. These issues, including adhesions and meatal stenosis, highlight the need for better training and standardized care to prevent adverse outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Surgery
- Urology
- Neonatal Care
Background:
- Newborn circumcision is a common procedure with potential for late complications.
- Understanding these complications is crucial for improving patient outcomes and surgical techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the types of operative and post-operative late complications following newborn circumcision.
- To provide recommendations for the prevention of these complications.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of late complications from newborn circumcisions (January 2003 - December 2007).
- Analysis of consultation notes and operative reports.
- Review of cases from an outpatient Pediatric Urology Clinic (April 2007 - April 2008).
Main Results:
- 4.7% (424 of 8,967) of circumcisions were performed for complications from prior neonatal procedures.
- Common complications included penile adhesions, skin bridges, meatal stenosis, redundant foreskin, recurrent phimosis, buried penis, and penile rotation.
- 127 boys were evaluated for concerns post-newborn circumcision, representing 7.4% of the pediatric urology clinic's caseload.
Conclusions:
- The incidence of complications following newborn circumcision necessitates further collaborative study.
- Recommendations emphasize the importance of adequate practitioner training in circumcision techniques and post-operative care.
Purpose:
The purpose of this paper is to study the types of operative and post-operative late complications resulting from newborn circumcisions and to make recommendations to prevent them.
Methods:
After obtaining IRB approval, a retrospective review of the late complications resulting from newborn circumcisions treated at the MassGeneral Hospital for Children from January 2003 to December 2007 was undertaken. The source used was the consultation notes and operative reports of affected patients. Additionally, cases seen in the outpatient Pediatric Urology Clinic from April 2007 to April 2008 were reviewed.
Results:
A total of 8,967 children were operated during the study period, of which 424 (4.7%) were for complications resulting from previous neonatal circumcision. Penile adhesions, skin bridges, meatal stenosis, redundant foreskin (incomplete circumcision with uncircumcised appearance), recurrent phimosis, buried penis and penile rotation were the most frequent complications. At the outpatient clinic of the Section of Pediatric Urology, 127 boys with concerns following newborn circumcision were evaluated, representing 7.4% of the total volume of cases seen in this clinic.
Conclusions:
Our results indicate the need to undertake a collaborative study to define the incidence of complications following newborn circumcisions, which should be performed by practitioners with adequate training in the technique of their choice and its post-operative care.
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