Wound Healing and Cosmetic Outcomes in Neonatal Circumcision Using Three Different Techniques

Taiye Taibat Ibiyeye; Jones Olaoluwa Taiwo; Abdulrasheed A Nasir; Ademola A Popoola

doi:10.4103/ajps.ajps_13_23

Wound Healing and Cosmetic Outcomes in Neonatal Circumcision Using Three Different Techniques

Afr J Paediatr Surg. 2024 Mar 14. doi: 10.4103/ajps.ajps_13_23. Online ahead of print.

Authors

Taiye Taibat Ibiyeye¹, Jones Olaoluwa Taiwo¹, Abdulrasheed A Nasir², Ademola A Popoola²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Surgery, Federal Teaching Hospital, Lokoja, Kogi State, Ilorin, Nigeria.
² Department of Surgery, University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, University of Ilorin, Ilorin, Nigeria.

PMID: 38520233
DOI: 10.4103/ajps.ajps_13_23

Abstract

Background: Circumcision of a male child is an integral part of some African cultures. An ideal technique of neonatal circumcision should be simple, safe and heal satisfactorily with good cosmetic appeal.

Aims: The aim was to compare conventional dissection (CD), Plastibell (PB) and Gomco (GM) techniques of circumcision in neonates in terms of wound healing, wound healing complications, cosmetic outcome and parental satisfaction.

Subjects and methods: A total of 144 male neonates were randomised into three study groups: CD, GM and PB groups. All procedures were performed under local anaesthesia as day case. Superficial wound healing was assessed on the 7th post-operative day. The cosmetic outcome of the three techniques was assessed by a plastic surgeon and the parents using a 4-point Likert scale on the 4th post-operative week.

Results: The three groups were comparable in terms of age (P = 0.207) and weight (P = 0.098) at circumcision. There was satisfactory wound healing in 48 (100%) patients in the GM group, compared to 47 (97.8%) in the CD group and 45 (93.8%) in the PB group (P = 0.324). Wound healing complications were recorded in seven patients, 1 (2.1%) in the CD group with wound infection, 5 (10.4%) in the PB group with moderate pain despite the use of analgesia and 1 (2.1%) patient with skin bridge in the CD group. The plastic surgeon and the parents rated the cosmetic outcome of CD higher than the other two techniques.

Conclusion: There is no significant difference in superficial wound healing amongst the three circumcision techniques. The cosmetic outcome of CD was significantly better than that of GM and PB circumcisions.