Sutureless circumcision using monopolar diathermy and 2-octyl cyanoacrylate is safe and effective in a cohort of 634 post-neonatal prepubescent boys

Abstract

Background: Circumcision is the most commonly performed surgical procedure in the world, with one-third of males circumcised globally. Post-neonatal, prepubescent sutured circumcision demonstrates complication rates ranging from 1.7% to 9.1%. We have previously reported that 2-octyl cyanoacrylate (2-OCA, Dermabond, Ethicon) primary circumcision (PC) and circumcision revision (CR) in prepubescent children demonstrated superior cosmesis, shorter operating room (OR) times and cost savings.

Objective: The aim of our study is to evaluate complication and reoperation rates with a scalpel-free and suture-less technique for primary circumcision (PC) and circumcision revision (CR) using 2-OCA.

Methods: Following IRB approval, we conducted a retrospective review of all boys at our institution who underwent PC or CR using 2-OCA and monopolar diathermy between January 2014 and January 2021. All procedures were performed by a single surgeon. The technique is outlined in the figure below. No aligning sutures or instruments were used in this process. Patients that required sutures or compressive dressings based on age or associated anomalies were excluded from analysis. We obtained all returns to our system within 30 days of the procedure and returns to the OR during the study period using the REDCap database.

Results: Of 1107 procedures performed during the study period, 634 procedures (479 PC and 155 CR) met inclusion criteria. Median age was 12 months (range 3 months-10.4 years) with minimum follow up of 1 year. There were 3 patients (0.47%) that returned to system within 30 days for surgical site bleeding, and one patient (0.15%) required surgical intervention within 30 days. Nine patients required reoperation after 30 days, five (0.8%) for iatrogenic phimosis, 3 (0.5%) for redundant prepuce and 1 for keloid formation. We observed an overall complication rate of 1.3% (6/634) and reoperation rate of 1.6% (10/634).

Discussion: Since FDA approval in 1998, 2-OCA has been widely adopted as a replacement for sutures in tension-free wounds. However, it has yet to gain widespread use for circumcision given concerns for wound dehiscence and surgical site bleeding. This study demonstrates that a scalpel-free and suture-less technique demonstrates complication and reoperation rates are lower than reported circumcision using scalpel and sutures. Limitations include retrospective design, single surgeon experience, and REDCAP database only identifying patients with complications that required a return to system.

Conclusion: Our technique for suture-less circumcision using 2-OCA offers superior cosmesis, shorter OR times, cost savings, and a lower complication rate (1.3%) compared to sutured circumcision (>1.7%) reported in post-neonatal prepubescent boys.

Keywords: 2-Octyl cyanoacrylate; Circumcision; Circumcision revision; Dermabond.