[Phimosis: dorsal slit or circumcision?].

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Surgery
• Urology

Background:

• Phimosis is a common condition requiring surgical intervention in pediatric surgery clinics globally.
• Dorsal slit and circumcision are the primary surgical procedures for phimosis treatment at this institution.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the efficacy and safety of dorsal slit versus circumcision for pediatric phimosis.
• To analyze surgical outcomes, complication rates, and patient/parent satisfaction for both procedures.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 1698 pediatric patients undergoing elective phimosis surgery (2003-2009).
• Data collected included patient age, surgical/anesthetic times, technique used, and complications.
• A telephonic survey assessed parental and patient satisfaction post-surgery.

Main Results:

• Dorsal slit was performed in 76.6% of cases, circumcision in 23.4%.
• Circumcision had a significantly longer surgical time (p < 0.0001) and higher incidence of postoperative bleeding (1.7%; p = 0.03).
• No significant differences were observed in reoperation rates (3%), postoperative stenosis, pain, or functional/esthetic satisfaction between the groups.

Conclusions:

• Both dorsal slit and circumcision are valid and safe surgical options for treating phimosis in children.
• Subjective satisfaction rates are comparable between the two techniques.
• The decision between dorsal slit and circumcision should be a shared one between the surgeon and parents, considering the low overall complication incidence.