Outcome of circumcision for newborns with penoscrotal web: oblique skin incision followed by penis shaft skin physical therapy shows success

Evaluation of Z-plasty versus Heineke-Mikulicz scrotoplasty in the management of penoscrotal web in pediatric age group

BACKGROUND

The penoscrotal web may be congenital or acquired following excessive ventral skin removal during circumcision. Several surgical techniques were described for the treatment of congenital webbed penis without a clear comparison between their outcomes. This prospective study aimed at comparing the surgical results of Z-scrotoplasty and Heineke-Mikulicz scrotoplasty in the treatment of congenital webbed penis in uncircumcised pediatric patients.

METHODS

Our study included 40 uncircumcised patients who were divided randomly into two groups; Group A included 20 patients who were treated by Z-scrotoplasty and Group B included the other 20 patients who were treated by Heineke-Mikulicz scrotoplasty. All patients were circumcised at the end of the procedure.

RESULTS

The surgical outcome was good without a significant difference between the two groups in 36 patients. Recurrent webbing developed in one patient of Group A and in three patients of Group B (FE p = 0.605) The only significant difference between the two groups was the operative duration which was shorter in Group B than in Group A (P < 0.001*).

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment of congenital penoscrotal web in the pediatric age group could be done with either Z-scrotoplasty or Heineke-Mikulicz scrotoplasty with satisfactory results, however, without significant difference in the surgical outcomes.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

• Registration Number: ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT05817760. • Registration release date: April 5, 2023.

Congenital webbed penis: Surgical outcomes of a simplified technique

BACKGROUND

Webbed penis is a cause of concealed penis. It reflects abnormal attachment of the scrotal skin to different ventral penile shaft levels, possibly due to abnormal scrotal dartos insertion. Different techniques are available for correction of congenital webbed penis. However, there is no single one versatile for correction of different grades.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the surgical outcome of penile degloving, excision of abnormal dartos fascia with penoscrotal fixation sutures to correct different grades of congenital webbed penis.

STUDY DESIGN

This prospective study was conducted on boys with congenital webbed penis. Thorough clinical examination to determine the degree of webbed penis and associated anomalies were done. A technical modification of previously described technique by Frenkl et al. 2004 (22) was used. The principles include; complete penile degloving with excision of all abnormal scrotal dartos attached to the penile shaft, creation of a well-defined penoscrotal angle by penoscrotal fixation sutures and the short ventral skin was compensated from the prepuce with circumcision. Assessments of surgical outcomes and parents' satisfaction were done during follow up visits.

RESULTS

This study included 107 boys. The median age was 9 (range, 6-40) months, and the median operative time was 55 (range, 50-65) min. Five patients (4.7%) developed self-limited postoperative penile edema, two (1.9%) developed wound infections, and two (1.9%) had a self-limited scrotal hematoma. The median follow-up period was 19 months. At the 6 months follow-up, we had two patients with persistent mild grade I webs, with a success rate of 98.13%. Parental satisfaction was obtained for all patients.

DISCUSSION

Currently, there is no current single technique suitable for the correction of all grades of webbed penis. In this study, we presented a technical modification of previously described technique by Frenkl et al. 2004 (9), this modified technique is versatile for correction of different grades of congenital webbed penis without leaving a scar at the penoscrotal angle. But, absence of a comparative group is considered a limitation; however, the versatility of this technique overcomes this limitation.

CONCLUSIONS

This described technique is simple and feasible. It could correct all types of congenital webbed penis. Short term outcome showed good cosmetic and functional results with parental satisfaction.

Reconstructive surgery of the scrotum: a systematic review

The term scrotoplasty embraces several techniques which aim to restore a normal scrotal appearance and function. We provide here a quick reference tool to allow the urologist to select the appropriate surgical strategy among the several available options. A comprehensive research was carried out on MEDLINE/PubMed to identify relevant studies concerning this topic, including a range of key words, e.g., scrotoplasty, ventral phalloplasty, scrotal reconstruction, scrotomegaly, penoscrotal web, scrotal lifting, scrotal reduction, scrotectomy, scrotal lymphoedema. Scrotal skin defects may be related with Fournier's gangrene, traumatic events, and surgery for genital cancers or peno-scrotal lymphoedema. The reconstructive management of these conditions is relatively reproducible in the hands of experienced urologists, if aware of the basics of scrotal surgery. Primary tension-free wound closure and local pedicled flaps typically allow optimal surgical outcomes for repairing most of these scrotal defects, with split-thickness skin grafts (STSGs) and/or distant flaps being required only when dealing with extensive skin losses. The demand for genitals' aesthetic surgery among adults is on the increase recently. Although the scientific evidence regarding this topic is scarce, reduction scrotoplasty and peno-scrotal webbing correction techniques are easy, safe and effective solutions to improve genital cosmesis, being carried out in isolation or in combination with penile prosthesis implantation. More robust scientific evidence is needed to achieve a uniformed consensus regarding the optimal surgical management in this broad field, and surgical innovation should continue to refine current reconstructive techniques.

Is the simple webbed penis a contraindication to circumcision?

Background

Surgical correction of the webbed penis is challenging. We presented the safety and feasibility of webbed penis correction for neonates under local anesthesia using a simple principle of leaving equal cylindrical shaft skin.

Methods

This retrospective study included 530 patients who presented for circumcision to three pediatric surgery centers between May 2017 and January 2020. We included male patients aged less than four weeks old who had circumcision with a minimum of 6 months follow-up. We compared patients with normal penile anatomy (n = 451, Group 1) to a simple webbed penis (n = 79, Group 2).

Results

There were no differences in age and weight between groups. The procedure time was significantly longer in Group 2 (8.05 ± 3.11 vs. 7.48 ± 2.07 min; P = 0.04). There were no differences in bleeding (P = 0.38), redundant foreskin (P > 0.99), need for corrective surgery (P = 0.38), and re-suturing (P = 0.28) between groups. The procedure success was significantly higher in Group 1 (449 (99.56%) vs. 70 (88.6%); P < 0.001). Parents' satisfaction was measured at two weeks with no difference between both groups.

Conclusion

Simple penoscrotal web is not a contraindication for neonatal circumcision. Circumcision of the penoscrotal web had good esthetic results with comparable outcomes to those with a normal penis without a web.