Surgical Outcomes of Clitoroplasty in Children with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia and Clitoral Hypertrophy: A 19-Year Experience of a Single Surgeon

This study aimed to describe the experience with clitoroplasty for clitoral hypertrophy in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia of a single surgeon. The medical records of female pediatric patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia who underwent clitoroplasty at a tertiary referral hospital between 2002 and 2020 were retrospectively analyzed. Three different surgical techniques were applied for clitoroplasty: recession without reduction, reduction and recession, and girth reduction and recession. A total of 104 patients underwent clitoroplasty for clitoral hypertrophy. The median patient age at the time of surgery was 10 months (range, 4 months to 10 years). The operation time was longer in reduction clitoroplasty than in recession clitoroplasty without reduction (median, 153 vs. 111 min, p = 0.003). The mean postoperative pain score of the patients did not differ among the different clitoroplasty techniques. During the mean follow-up of 37.7 months, nine (8.6%) patients underwent reperformed clitoroplasty. The rate of reperformed operation was significantly higher in patients who underwent reduction clitoroplasty (17.3%) than in those who underwent recession without reduction (2%) or girth reduction and recession (0%) (p = 0.031). Early clitoroplasty in patients with congenital adrenal hyperplasia yielded good mid-term surgical outcomes in terms of cosmesis and recurrence rate, with minimal perioperative complications.

Early Feminizing Genitoplasty in Girls with Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia (CAH)-Analysis of Unified Surgical Management

AIM

To analyze a single-centre experience in feminizing genitoplasty in virilized girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH).

METHODS

Review of medical records of all 46, XX CAH patients undergoing single stage feminizing genitoplasty between 2003 and 2018 was performed.

RESULTS

A total of 31 girls aged from 4 months to 10 years were included in the study. The majority (n = 26/31, 84%) were operated before 2 years of age (median 8 months). External virilization was rated as Prader 3 (n = 7/31), Prader 4 (n = 21/31) and Prader 5 (n = 3/31). The urethrovaginal confluence location was low in 19 and high in 12 girls with a percentage distribution similar in Prader 4 and 5 (p > 0.05) but significantly different in Prader 3 (p = 0.017). The follow-up ranged from 12 months to 15 years. All parents assessed the cosmetic result as satisfactory. Perioperative complications occurred in two patients and included rectal injury (n = 1/31) and prolonged bleeding (n = 1/31). Three patients developed late complications including labial atheromas (n = 2/31) and vaginal stricture requiring surgical dilatation (n = 1/31). Low confluence did not decrease the risk of complications.

CONCLUSIONS

Early feminizing genitoplasty in girls with congenital adrenal hyperplasia, irrespective of virilization severity, gives satisfactory cosmetic results and is characterized by low and acceptable surgical risk. Nevertheless, the most important determinant of the effectiveness of such management would be future patients' satisfaction.

Malaysian Females With Congenital Adrenal Hyperplasia: Surgical Outcomes and Attitudes

Background: Girls born with congenital adrenal hyperplasia have virilized external genitalia. There is considerable debate regarding both the outcomes of feminizing genitoplasty and timing of the surgery in this population. Objective: To investigate outcomes of females 46,XX individuals with CAH in Malaysia, the surgical outcomes of feminizing genitoplasty (FG) and their attitudes toward surgery. Study Design: This is a cross-sectional study involving the two main tertiary centers in Malaysia. All 46,XX patients with CAH and raised female, who had undergone FG were identified and invited to participate. Data on socio-demographic, medical profiles, and attitudes toward surgery were collected. A standardized evaluation of the external genitalia was undertaken including the anatomic and cosmetic evaluation by independent gynecologists. Results: Of 61 individuals identified, 59 participated-consisting of children (n = 12), adolescents (n = 29) and adults (n = 18). All but one had classical CAH (98.3%) and had undergone FG (n = 55, 93.2%) with surgery mostly undertaken by pediatric surgeons trained in DSD work (n = 44, 74.6%). Complications overall were low (20.3%), with repeat surgery rate of 9.1%. External genital examination was performed in 38 participants. Overall 36.8% had absent clitoral glands and 39.5% had a persistent urogenital sinus and in 10.5%, no vaginal orifices were seen. Poor cosmetic outcomes were present in 42.1% with 55.3% recommended for further assessment under general anesthetic. Almost half participants did not venture an opinion on FG, those who did varied from having a positive attitude toward it (18 participants) to 3 opining that it should not be done, or avoided or delayed. From the participants, 35.5% preferred FG to be done early in life compared to 44.0% of the parents. Conclusions: The reoperation rates of the feminizing genitoplasty surgeries were low however due to the anatomic and cosmetic outcomes, reassessment of the external genitalia of these CAH patients may be required once they consider becoming sexually active as they may require further treatment. Many factors such as cultural sensitivities and access to medical treatment and late diagnoses have an impact on attitudes toward FG.