Penile Skin Bridges After Circumcision and Penile Surgery: Surgical Management and Preventive Considerations

Penile skin bridges are uncommon late complications of circumcision and penile surgery, occurring when raw epithelial surfaces adhere during healing and form fibrotic tracts. This study aimed to describe the clinical presentations, anatomic variations, surgical management techniques, and outcomes of pediatric patients treated for symptomatic penile skin bridges.

This retrospective descriptive case series included patients who presented with penile skin bridges after circumcision or other penile surgeries between 2019 and 2025. Clinical characteristics, bridge anatomic patterns, surgical techniques, and outcomes with a minimum 6- month follow-up were analyzed.

Four male patients (median age 10.5 y, range: 4.5 to 14) presented with penile skin bridges at a median of 7.75 years after primary surgery (circumcision n = 2, circumcision with curvature correction n = 1, hypospadias repair n = 1). Bridge patterns included single dorsal or lateral bridges (n = 2) and multiple bridges involving several quadrants (n = 2). All patients underwent complete surgical excision under general anesthesia with 6/0 polydioxanone suture closure; local skin flaps were required in one case to achieve tension-free repair. At a median follow-up of 3 years (range: 9 mo to 6.5 y), all wounds healed without complications, pain resolved completely in symptomatic patients, and no recurrences were observed.

Penile skin bridges may develop after various pediatric penile surgeries, including circumcision, hypospadias repair, and curvature correction. Complete surgical excision with tension-free closure, using local skin flaps when needed, resulted in favorable short-term and mid-term outcomes with no recurrences.