Prevention of postcircumcision meatal stenosis

ABSTRACT

Meatal stenosis is a condition that almost always is acquired after neonatal circumcision. Circumcision is one of the most common surgical operations throughout the world, and meatal stenosis is one its late complications. We evaluated the topical use of a lubricant jelly after circumcision in boys in order to reduce the risk of meatal stenosis. To evaluate the use of lubricant in prevention of postcircumcision meatal stenosis and other complications. From April 2010 to September 2012, 300 boys younger than 2 year old referred to AL-RAMADI TEACHING HOSPITAL IN ANBAR, IRAQ and my clinic, were involved in a randomized controlled trial. They were referred for circumcision. The parents in the study group were instructed to use petroleum jelly on the circumcision site after each diaper change for 6 months. In the control group, no topical medication was used. The children were followed up regularly and evaluated for meatal stenosis, bleeding, infection, and recovery time. Three hundred boys younger than 2 years old participated in the study. None of the children in the lubricant group developed meatal stenosis, while 91 [60.6%] in the control group developed postcircumcision meatal stenosis [P=0 .0000] which is statistically highly significant. Infection of the circumcision site was observed in 2 [1.3%] and 14 [9.3%] children of the lubricant and control groups, respectively [P=0 .0004] which is statistically highly significant. Two boys [1.3%] in the lubricant group and 29 [19.3%] in the control group had postcircumcision bleeding [P=0 .0007] which is statistically highly significant. Finally, the mean time of recovery in the lubricant group was 3.8 +/- 1.2 days, while it was 6.9 +/- 4.2 days in the control group [P = 0.03]. Based on the findings of this study we can conclude that using petroleum jelly after circumcision is considerably effective for reducing postcircumcision meatal stenosis and other complications