ABSTRACT
Introduction: Physiological phimosis, a common complaint in the surgery outpatient department presenting as non–retractile foreskin is due to adhesions between the inner layer of the prepuce with glans penis or due to tight tip of the prepuce. These patients are managed with circumcision, preputial dilatation and topical application of steroid. In this study, we compare different outcomes measures in children treated with dilatation along with Betamethasone ointment. Methods: This prospective study was conducted in the department of General surgery outpatient department in 2018. We followed up 50 patients who underwent application of betamethasone ointment followed by dilatation and application of betamethasone impregnated antibiotic cream twice daily over a period of six weeks. We recorded basic demographic features, parent anxiety, parental compliance, parent satisfaction, complete response and persistence of phimosis at the end of the treatment. Results: The median age of the patients was 36 with range (23–48) months. At the end of six weeks, with regard to all outcome measures namely parent compliance, parent satisfaction, symptom resolution. Moreover, phimosis persisted in 3 (6%) of the patients treated with dilatation and betnovate ointment. Conclusions: This study shows that Dilatation and local application of betnovate ointment is a better alternative to circumcision.