Glans amputation during routine neonatal circumcision: mechanism of injury and strategy for prevention

A novel circumcision technique for adult phimosis combining three techniques: a retrospective comparative study

We presented a novel circumcision technique for adult phimosis that combines the advantages of three circumcision methods-dorsal slit, guillotine, and sleeve (DGS)-while modifying technical details, referred to as the modified DGS technique. This retrospective comparative trial enrolled 483 adult males with phimosis undergoing circumcision between March 1, 2018 and March 1, 2024 at our hospital. The patients were divided into the modified DGS technique group (n = 151) and control (dorsal slit technique) group (n = 332) according to their preferences. Postoperative complications, surgical duration, and satisfaction with penile appearance were compared. The overall complication rate was 2.6% in the modified DGS group and 11.1% in the control group (p = 0.0019). The mean surgical duration was 36.8 ± 11.5 min for the modified DGS group and 35.2 ± 8.9 min for the control group (p = 0.0964). The modified DGS group exhibited a significantly lower dissatisfaction rate regarding overall penile appearance compared to the control group (2.6% versus 18.1%, p < 0.0001) as assessed by the postoperative follow-up questionnaire. The modified DGS technique, compared with the dorsal slit approach, can be used for phimosis with a similar surgical duration. It demonstrates fewer complications and better cosmetic outcomes.

Parental regret following decision for sons to undergo elective post-neonatal circumcision

INTRODUCTION

The reasons for performing a circumcision among males after the neonatal period are usually cultural or medical. We aimed to evaluate parental regret for providing consent and to identify factors associated with such regret.

METHODS

Included were the parents of males aged 6 months to 18 years who underwent circumcision under general anesthesia at a single center between 2/2017 and 01/2023. Those who underwent additional surgical procedures during the same session were excluded. Parents responded telephonically to the Decision Regret Scale (DRS) questionnaire. Regret was classified as none (0 points), mild (1-25) or moderate-to-strong (26-100). Surgical and demographic data were retrieved for comparison to DRS scores and identification of predictors of parental regret.

RESULTS

In total, 201 of the 265 suitable patients met the inclusion criteria. Parents of 130 patients (65% response rate) whose average age was 5.06 (IQR 1.58,7.53) years completed the DRS questionnaire (study group). The average time since surgery was 41.8 (IQR 25.4,59.3) months. Forty surgeries were undertaken for cultural reasons and 90 for medical considerations. Eighteen parents reported regret (15 mild and 3 moderate-to-strong) for their decision to consent to their son's circumcision. The time from responding since surgery was the only significant variable in the DRS scores, with a 33-month gap predicting no regret (p = 0.02 compared to shorter gaps). The reasons for circumcision did not significantly differ between the "regret" and "no-regret" groups (p = 0.23).

DISCUSSION

Our current investigation revealed a lower incidence of parental regret when compared to previous reports following distal hypospadias repair, likely attributable to the lower complication rate associated with circumcision. Our data reflect the experience of a single center in a country where neonatal male circumcision is routinely performed for cultural and religious reasons, thus precluding the generalization of our findings to places where post-natal circumcision is less commonplace.

CONCLUSION

Consent to their son's post-neonatal circumcision was regretted by 13.8% of parents. Time since surgery significantly influenced the reduction of their negative attitudes.

Successful Penile Refashioning Plus Glans Reconstruction With a Buccal Mucosa Graft: A Case Report

Poorly performed circumcisions can lead to severe complications, including penile injury and psychological distress. We present the case of a 9-year-old male who suffered from glans amputation following a poorly performed circumcision. The patient underwent successful penile refashioning and glans reconstruction with a buccal mucosa graft. Our case highlights the importance of proper surgical training and expertise in managing circumcision-related complications, and the potential benefits of reconstructive surgery in restoring normal anatomy and function. The case report contributes to literature on penile reconstruction following circumcision-related injuries.

Evaluating Safety of Ring Versus Clamp Devices in Neonatal Circumcision: A Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

While device-based circumcision is considered non-inferior to traditional dissection, there is no consensus on the efficacy and safety of ring devices in comparison with clamp devices. We aimed to compare the safety outcomes of ring-based versus clamp-based circumcision techniques in neonates.

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, and CINAHL were searched following the Cochrane collaboration (PRISMA guidelines), without language restrictions, to identify relevant randomized controlled trials. Adverse events, bleeding events, infection events, and procedure time were extracted and analyzed from the selected studies.

RESULTS

From 1661 citations, seven trials were included, encompassing 3390 patients. These studies compared ring-based to clamp-based circumcision devices in neonates. No significant difference was found in overall adverse events between the two groups. However, ring devices showed significantly fewer bleeding events compared to clamp devices. Infection events and procedure time were similar for both groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Both ring and clamp devices have similar safety profiles, with ring devices potentially offering a reduced risk of bleeding. A comprehensive understanding of ring-specific complications and cosmetic outcomes is necessary for a more complete evaluation of these circumcision techniques. Our analysis is limited from a lack of detailed examination of ring-specific complications and their impact on cosmetic results. The included studies varied in quality, and some exhibited a risk of bias.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV Treatment Study.

Penile amputation after neonatal circumcision: a case report

In children, one of the most common surgical procedures worldwide is circumcision, which has strong religious implications and is frequently performed for nontherapeutic reasons. Circumcision is typically associated with old customs. Complete penile amputation is extremely uncommon, and the prognosis is little understood.

CASE PRESENTATION

A 7-day-old male term baby was circumcised with a cauter by an unexperienced practitioner, and the patient was admitted to the department of pediatric surgery. Both the glans and the body had become discolored and necrotic. The patient was taken into the theater and given general anesthesia. The authors removed the debridement and inserted a catheter into the urethra to prevent urethral stenosis.

DISCUSSION

The procedure of circumcision has several medical benefits and is widely performed for religious, cultural, and medical reasons. It is generally agreed that circumcision prevents against sexually transmitted diseases, penile and cervical cancer in adults, as well as urinary tract infections in children.Partial or complete penile amputation injuries are rare and frequently the result of psychotic self-harm. Operators must correctly conduct the circumcision in order to prevent the potential complications that can happen when the procedure is performed out by untrained hands.The most common cause of penile amputation injuries, whether partial or total, is psychotic self-harm. Operators must carry out the procedure carefully to prevent the potential complications that can happen when circumcision is performed by untrained hands.

CONCLUSION

The authors present here a case of a 7-day-old boy who had ritual circumcision with a cauter complicated by an entire penile amputation, which was treated with the insertion of a catheter to prevent the closure of the urethra. The patient reported his penis was circumcised with cautery one day later the glans and the entire penis became discolored and necrosis, unfortunately, the entire penis was lost with the overlying skin.

Surgical approach to penile reconstruction for shaft skin excision from circumcision

PURPOSE

Circumcision is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures. Complications are infrequent, including bleeding, though can be significant such as shaft skin excision. The aim of this study was to identify mechanism of injury and reconstructive techniques for skin excision using a full thickness skin graft (FTSG) or with the novel application of tissue expanders (TE).

METHODS

Patients who underwent penile reconstruction following shaft skin excision from an overzealous circumcision were retrospectively reviewed. The penis was covered using a FTSG, harvested from the groin/hip, or using TE, with expanders placed in residual shaft skin.

RESULTS

Twelve patients experienced significant skin loss (range 65-95%) including 2 with partial glans loss. Ten were reconstructed using a FTSG and 2 with TE. Injury was most frequently from a Mogen clamp (n = 9), or from a Gomco clamp, Plastibell device, and electrocautery burns. Six FTSG patients experienced complications with lymphedema (n = 3) most common.

CONCLUSION

Shaft skin excision is a devastating complication with risk greatest from Mogen clamp use. TE is preferred as this avoids donor site morbidity which reassures parents but requires sufficient residual skin that can be expanded. Both techniques effectively provide soft tissue coverage with acceptable appearance and long-term function.

Serious and Fatal Complications after Neonatal Circumcision

Neonatal circumcision (NNC) is the most frequently performed surgical procedure worldwide and is generally considered safe in Western societies. Deaths attributed to NNC are seldom reported and are mostly explained by lack of adherence to medical standards. We reviewed our emergency department database for circumcision-related emergency admissions. During 2000-2013, 19 previously healthy neonates were admitted for acute complications after circumcision. Four were admitted for bleeding, with hemophilia identified in two cases and von Willebrand disease in one. Eight boys required emergency surgery, three for severe bleeding. Four boys with amputation of the glans underwent immediate surgical reconstruction. One infant was taken to the operating room to remove an obstructing Plastibell ring. Seven boys were admitted to the intensive care unit with severe bleeding or sepsis, three of whom ultimately progressed to hemorrhagic or septic shock. Two of these children died of their complications. We estimate that the annual incidence of severe complications requiring hospitalization after NNC in the Greater Toronto Area was approximately 0.01%, and the incidence of fatalities over the 14-yr review period was approximately 0.0012%. Our results indicate that the risk of serious complications and death as a result of NNC is greater than generally assumed.

Iatrogenic partial glanular amputation: A rare complication of circumcision

Circumcision is a customary ritual across many cultures. However, the safety of such procedures remains a concern. A boy underwent circumcision in 2014 by a religious worker at the age of 7 years. Post circumcision, the patient had gradual narrowing of the penis, between the glans and the shaft, with an iatrogenic partial glanular amputation and presented to us at the age of 14 years. The patient underwent end-to-end urethroplasty and glansplasty. Postoperatively, the patient did well and the wound remained healthy. Circumcision has complications even in expert hands. Religious circumcision can result in dreadful complications in children and adolescents.

Parental Regret Following Decision to Revise Circumcision

PURPOSE

Revision surgery for the removal of excess foreskin after circumcision is a common procedure. The decision regret scale (DRS) is a validated questionnaire which assesses regret after medical decision making. The aim was to evaluate parental regret by means of the DRS and querying about factors associated with regret about deciding to revise their child's circumcision.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Included were all pediatric patients who underwent revision of neonatal circumcision in a single center between 2010 and 2016. Excluded were children who underwent revision for reasons other than excess foreskin, those who underwent additional surgical procedures during the same anesthetic session, and those who had undergone previous penile surgery other than circumcision. Response to the DRS questionnaire was by a telephone call with the patient's parent. Regret was classified as none (a score of 0), mild (1-25), or moderate-to-strong (26-100). Surgical and baseline demographic data were obtained from the departmental database and compared between the no regret and regret groups.

RESULTS

Of the 115 revisions of circumcisions performed during the study period, 52 fulfilled the inclusion criteria, and the parents of 40 (77%) completed the DRS questionnaire. Regret was reported by 11/40 [28%: nine as mild (23%) and two as moderate-to-strong (5%)]. The average age of the child in the regret group was 17 months compared to 18 months in the no regret group (p = 0.27). The median weight percentile was 43% in both groups. Surgical variables, including anesthesia type (caudal vs. no block, p = 0.65), suture type (polyglactin vs. poliglecaprone, p = 0.29), operation time (28 vs. 25 min, p = 0.59), and anesthesia time (55 vs. 54 min, p = 0.57) were not significantly different between the groups.

CONCLUSIONS

Regret for deciding upon revision surgery for removal of excess foreskin post-circumcision was reported by 27.5% of parents of children who underwent revision. No clinical, surgical, or demographic characteristics predicted parental decisional regret.

Catastrophic Complications of Circumcision by Traditional Circumcisers

Circumcision is one of the important public surgeries performed globally. It is a popular non-therapeutic procedure that can be performed by people of various abilities and skills, ranging from trained medical practitioners to non-specialists, depending on their cultural and social backgrounds. Consequently, this surgery may cause varying types and frequencies of complications. Glans amputation and death due to severe bleeding, as a complication of this procedure, are rare, and the patients are left with morbidity and life-long complications. Here, we describe two cases of catastrophic complications due to ritual circumcision (one penile glans amputation and one death).

Isolated Penile Injury in Boys: Accident, Negligence, or Abuse?

AIM

The aim of the study was to highlight the etiology, spectrum of presentation, and management of isolated penile trauma in boys.

METHODS

A retrospective review of boys treated for isolated penile trauma between January 2015 and June 2019 at a tertiary-level hospital.

RESULTS

Nine children were admitted over 4½ years. Etiology: The mechanism of penile injury (PI) was penile hair tourniquet (n = 5), postcircumcision (n = 2), dog bite (n = 1), and scald injury (n = 1). Extent of injury includes complete urethral transection at corona (n = 4); loss of urethral plate in a case of hypospadias (n = 1); complete loss of glans (n = 1); penile transection at corona (n = 1); total penile amputation (n = 1); and deep partial-thickness burns of penile shaft and adjacent suprapubic skin (n = 1). Management: One patient absconded. The remaining patients were managed as follows: calibration of urethral meatus (n = 1); penile burn was managed with dressing and antibiotics; coring of glans with urethral end-end anastomoses (n = 4); Bettocchi's quadrangular lower abdominal flap phalloplasty (n = 1); and Bracka's staged urethroplasty (n = 1). Complications include wound infection following trauma (n = 4), postsurgical infection (n = 3), urethrocutaneous fistula (n = 2), and reapplication of penile hair tourniquet (n = 1).

CONCLUSION

Isolated PI in boys is not uncommon. Most are preventable if the parents are apprized and watchful. The clinician should also be vigilant regarding child maltreatment. A staged approach tailored to the type of injury provides a satisfactory outcome.

Total glans amputation after neonatal circumcision

Complete penile glans amputation is exceedingly rare in children with little known about the outcomes of management. We present a case of a 12-day-old male who underwent ritual circumcision complicated by total amputation of the glans, which was treated with reimplantation of the glans. Our technique was successfully carried out following reconstruction of anatomical planes with loop magnification and fine 7-0 sutures. We review the sparse literature in children and compare it to the techniques reported more commonly in adults.

Penile Glans Amputation following Circumcision: A Case Report of a Rare Complication

Circumcision is the most prevalent surgery among men. Like any other surgical intervention, it is associated with several complications. A rare shocking complication is glans amputation which is a urologic emergency. Herein, we present a 4-year-old boy with penile glans amputation following circumcision. The reimplantation was performed in less than two hours. We approximated the ends over a size 4 : 0 catheter. The urethral anastomosis was performed via 6 : 0 Vicryl sutures. Then, we sutured amputated glans in place via Vicryl 4 : 0. We immobilized the penis for a week via bandages used in penile reconstruction surgeries. We also used pentoxifylline to treat glans ischemia after surgery. The patient and his parents did not mention any difficulties or abnormalities while voiding, and the cosmetic result was favorable after three months of follow-up.

Glans injury during ritual circumcision

BACKGROUND

Circumcision is one of the most performed surgical procedure in the world, often performed for nontherapeutic reasons. Depending on cultural and social backgrounds, the procedure may be performed by various sources; from trained health care practitioners to laypeople, giving rise to different frequencies and types of complications. Glans injury during ritual circumcision is a rare yet serious complication due to its associated morbidity and long-term consequences.

OBJECTIVE

In this study we describe the experience of two medical centers with the management and follow up of glans injury after ritual circumcision.

METHODS

We have retrospectively reviewed the medical files of all pediatric patients who presented to the ER with glans injury, following ritual circumcision, over a 17-year period from two medical centers.

RESULTS

A total of 8 patients were identified, who underwent ritual circumcision between 7 and 9 days of age. On presentation, 1 infant had complete glans amputation, the others presented with partial amputation of the glans. 6 of the 8 patients had a simultaneous urethral injury. All patients underwent surgical correction for their injury; Patients with isolated glans injury, underwent primary glans anastomosis. Of the 6 cases with simultaneous urethral injury: 3 underwent end-to-end urethral anastomosis following anastomosis of the amputated glans, one patient with complete glans amputation underwent a similar procedure, with initial end-to-end urethral anastomosis followed by glans anastomosis to the corpora cavernosa and 2 were managed by urethrostomy together with anastomosis of the amputated glans tissue to the remaining glans. Both patients with urethral injury, in whom end to end urethral anastomosis has not been performed, were found to have hypospadias on follow up. The rest had good functional and cosmetic results.

DISCUSSION

There is no single method for managing glans injury following circumcision. Some authors describe healing by secondary intention with delayed formal repair, while others advocate for primary anastomosis of the amputated glans, together with distal urethra-urethrostomy, in cases with simultaneous urethral injury. In this study, both patients without urethral anastomosis, developed secondary hypospadias due to meatal regression and required additional surgery, while the others showed good results. The limitations of our study are its retrospective nature and the small number of cases, preventing us to come to a definitive conclusion regarding the best way to treat such a rare injury.

CONCLUSION

Prompt surgical correction by glanular replantation with urethro-urethrostomy, in case of concomitant urethral injury, give good cosmetic and functional results.

Case series of glans injuries during voluntary medical male circumcision for HIV prevention - eastern and southern Africa, 2015-2018

BACKGROUND

Male circumcision confers partial protection against heterosexual HIV acquisition among men. The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has supported > 18,900,000 voluntary medical male circumcisions (VMMC). Glans injuries (GIs) are rare but devastating adverse events (AEs) that can occur during circumcision. To address this issue, PEPFAR has supported multiple interventions in the areas of surveillance, policy, education, training, supply chain, and AE management.

METHODS

Since 2015, PEPFAR has conducted surveillance of GIs including rapid investigation by the in-country PEPFAR team. This information is collected on standardized forms, which were reviewed for this analysis.

RESULTS

Thirty-six GIs were reported from 2015 to 2018; all patients were < 15 years old (~ 0·7 per 100,000 VMMCs in this age group) with a decreasing annual rate (2015: 0.7 per 100,000 VMMCs; 2018: 0.4 per 100,000 VMMC; p = 0.02). Most (64%) GIs were partial or complete amputations. All amputations among 10-14 year-olds occurred using the forceps-guided (FG) method, as opposed to the dorsal-slit (DS) method, and three GIs among infants occurred using a Mogen clamp. Of 19 attempted amputation repairs, reattached tissue was viable in four (21%) in the short term. In some cases, inadequate DS method training and being overworked, were found.

CONCLUSION

Following numerous interventions by PEPFAR and other stakeholders, GIs are decreasing; however, they have not been eliminated and remain a challenge for the VMMC program. Preventing further cases of complete and partial amputation will likely require additional interventions that prevent use of the FG method in young patients and the Mogen clamp in infants. Improving management of GIs is critical to optimizing outcomes.

Reliability of thermocautery-assisted circumcision: retrospective analysis of circumcision performed voluntarily in countries of low socioeconomic status

Objective:

The objective of this study was to evaluate the reliability of thermocautery-assisted circumcision performed voluntarily in patients of poor countries.

Material and methods:

Between 2016 and 2019, 32,000 children aged 7 days to 17 years were circumcised in multiple countries. The patients’ urological examinations were done before the administration of local anaesthesia. Patients revealed to have undescended testicle, inguinal hernia, hypospadias, varicocele, penile rotation anomaly, epispadias and infection were not circumcised. All procedures were performed under local anaesthesia by using thermocautery. Afterwards, mucosa and skin were sutured using absorbable suture and the circumcised penis was dressed. Patients were instructed to remove the dressing after 3 days.

Results:

Bleeding, requiring surgical intervention and drug reactions were not observed. The most observed complication was mucosal oedema, which occurred in approximately one-quarter of patients (26%, 8320/32,000) and continued for 3–5 days after the surgery. The most serious complication was a trapped penis, which occurred in 25 patients (0.078%). In six (0.018%) cases, meatal stenosis developed. Wound infection developed in only 10 (0.03%) cases, through the formation of an aseptic environment. Penile adhesion was seen in 35 cases (0.1%) and improved with anti-inflammatory treatment without any surgical intervention.

Conclusion:

Thermocautery-assisted circumcision can be used as an effective, safe and useful technique with few complications and rapid healing rates.

Evaluation of Male Circumcision: Retrospective Analysis of One Hundred and Ninety-eight Patients

Introduction Circumcision is the oldest and most frequently used surgical procedure. It dates back to at least 10,000 years from today. The debate on the benefits and necessity of circumcision is ongoing. In this study, we aimed to determine the complications and complication rate of circumcisions occurring in our circumcision clinic and to compare these with the complication rates in the world. Methods A total of 198 male patients circumcised between 2011 at 2019 at Bursa State Hospital was enrolled in the presented retrospective study. Demographic data of the patients were assessed and the height and weight of the patients were evaluated according to the child growth standards and weight for age percentile charts for boys of the World Health Organization (WHO). All early or late complications were noted after circumcision. Results The mean age of the patients was 93.57±40.12 (2-248) months. The mean follow-up time was 16.32±9.24 (2-35) months. Sixteen patients had bleeding, four patients had a penile hematoma, and 108 patients had penile edema. There is no statistically significant difference in the penile edema occurrence according to the weight of the patients (p=0.58).  Conclusion Circumcision is a frequently applied procedure. Like any other surgery, perioperative and postoperative complications can be observed. More importantly, a significant number of these complications can be prevented by careful surgery and postoperative care.

Scrotal injuries during neonatal circumcision

OBJECTIVE

To report very rarely encountered scrotal injuries during neonatal circumcision. Hospitals and physicians in the authors' country are mandated to report circumcision complications to the Ministry of Health. Those reports include the discharge summary from the emergency room or the admitting department. This is believed to be the first case series describing scrotal injuries during ritual circumcision.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Reports of all circumcision complications between 2007 and 2014 were evaluated. Retrieved data on cases of scrotal injuries included patient's age, time between injury and hospital admission, nature of the injury, and administered treatment.

RESULTS

Twelve of a total of 489 reports of circumcision injuries involved the scrotum (2.5%). All circumcisions were performed during the neonatal period, and the infants were admitted on the day of injury. The only related genital injury was significant shortage of penile skin reported in six patients. Scrotal exploration and skin closure in the operating room was undertaken in six cases, five under general anesthesia. Suture closure in the emergency department was performed in three patients, and the scrotal skin was left to heal with secondary intention in three other patients. Scrotal content injury that extended to the tunica vaginalis of the testis was noted in one exploration.

DISCUSSION

The injuries sustained by the 12 study infants were mostly superficial and are not expected to cause long-term damage, although half of the patients required treatment under general anesthesia in the operating room or under sedation in the emergency department. While all reported patients emerged unscathed from the anesthetic procedures, the possible immediate complications of anesthesia as well as its long-term effects are not to be taken lightly, especially when treating a newborn. Further education of medical providers as well as performers of ritual circumcisions may help lower the risk of this rare injury as well as other more severe complications.

CONCLUSION

Scrotal injury during neonatal circumcision is rare. While half of the 12 reported patients required exploration in the operating room, the injuries were mostly superficial and did not involve scrotal content, although they often involved extensive resection of penile skin.

Examination of short and long term complications of thermocautery, plastic clamping, and surgical circumcision techniques

Objective:

In this study, thermocautery, plastic clamping, and conventional (open surgical) circumcision techniques were compared in terms of their complications.

Methods:

Male patients who underwent circumcisions between May 2014 and May 2015 in two separate pediatric surgery clinics were retrospectively analyzed using the hospital registry system. These patients were evaluated in terms of age, accompanying pathologies, anesthesia techniques, complication rates, duration of surgery, and circumcision techniques. A statistical analysis of the data was performed, with a P<0.05 considered to be statistically significant.

Results:

The patients were divided into three groups according to the circumcision method: conventional surgical circumcision (n=833), thermocautery (n=1011), and plastic clamp (n=218). Complications were observed in 21 cases (1%): bleeding (11), infection (2), trapped penis (6), meatitis (1), and scrotal injury (1). There were significantly fewer complications in the thermocautery technique when compared to the clamping and surgical circumcision techniques. The plastic clamping and thermocautery techniques were superior to a surgical circumcision in terms of the operation time.

Conclusion:

The thermocautery circumcision technique can be used easily in both the operating theatre and in designated circumcision rooms, with a lower complication rate, when compared to plastic clamping and surgical circumcisions.

Reconstruction of an amputated glans penis with a buccal mucosal graft: case report of a novel technique

Penile amputation is a rare catastrophe and a serious complication of circumcision. Reconstruction of the glans penis may be indicated following amputation. Our report discusses a novel technique for reconfiguration of an amputated glans penis 1 year after a complicated circumcision. A 2-year-old male infant presented to us with glans penis amputation that had occurred during circumcision 1 year previously. The parents complained of severe meatal stenosis with disfigurement of the penis. Penis length was 3 cm. Complete penile degloving was performed. The distal part of the remaining penis was prepared by removing fibrous tissue. A buccal mucosal graft was applied to the distal part of the penis associated with meatotomy. The use of a buccal mucosal graft is a successful and simple procedure with acceptable cosmetic and functional results for late reconfiguration of the glans penis after amputation when penile size is suitable.

A randomized trial of Mogen clamp versus Plastibell for neonatal male circumcision in Botswana

BACKGROUND

Male circumcision can reduce the risk of heterosexually acquired HIV-1 infection in men. Neonatal male circumcision (NMC) has many potential advantages over circumcision at older ages, but little is known about its feasibility and safety in resource-limited settings.

METHODS

We performed a randomized trial in southeastern Botswana of Mogen clamp and Plastibell, 2 commonly used devices for NMC. Follow-up visits occurred at 6 weeks and 4 months postpartum. Adverse events, parental satisfaction, and staff impressions were recorded.

RESULTS

Of 302 male neonates randomized, 300 (99%) underwent circumcision, 153 (51%) with Mogen clamp, and 147 (49%) with Plastibell. There were no major adverse events in the Mogen clamp arm, but there were 2 major adverse events in the Plastibell arm (both were a proximally migrated ring that had to be removed by study staff). Minor adverse events were more common with the Mogen clamp compared with the Plastibell, specifically removal of too little skin and formation of skin bridges or adhesions (12 versus 1 and 11 versus 3, respectively, all P < 0.05). Five (3%) infants in the Mogen clamp arm and none in the Plastibell arm had minor bleeding (P = 0.03). More than 94% of mothers reported being highly or completely satisfied with the procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

NMC can be performed in Botswana with a low rate of adverse events and high parental satisfaction. Although the risk of migration and retention of the Plastibell is small, the Mogen clamp may be safer for NMC in regions where immediate emergent medical attention is not available.