Adult circumcision with glue and stitches under local anaesthesia at Thornhill Circumcision Centre, Luton

The widespread acceptance of adult local anaesthesia circumcision in the community remains debatable. We report outcomes (Glue and Stiches) from a dedicated GP clinic over two year period. Patient demographics, indications and postoperative complications were recorded prospectively.

Of 373 circumcisions (glue n=269 and stitches n=103), 230 patients had therapeutic indications including 63 (17%) balanitis xerotica obliterans and 11 (2.9%) had minor complications (infection n=6, bleeding n=2 and redo n=3) with no significant difference between the two groups.

Circumcision performed in adults remains a safe surgical option under local anaesthesia in dedicated GP surgeries.

Dr. A R Khan has performed 143 cases during this period. Four cases have a minor infection and one case has a minor bleeding. This means most of the cases have an excellent result after adult circumcision (Glue n=134 and stitches n=9). Glue circumcision in adults gives result with less pain and excellent cosmetic results. 

Adult circumcision : Are there any alternative treatments for tight foreskin in adults?

Phimosis or tight foreskin:  Are there any alternative treatments to circumcision ?

Under some circumstances, other alternative treatments may be considered to keep your foreskin but adult circumcision remains the most common treatment option to relieve your symptoms of tight foreskin. Alternatives to a circumcision include:

• Frenuloplasty – this is an operation to cut and lengthen your frenulum, which is the small tag of skin on the underside of your penis, between your foreskin and the shaft of your penis. If the frenulum is short or torn, you may have problems pulling your foreskin back. Frenuloplasty may relieve the symptoms. 

• Dorsal slit – in this procedure the foreskin is cut on the top of the foreskin to widen and loosen it, so it can be pulled back more easily. Cosmetic result showed fish mouth like appearance. 

• Prepuceplasty – this is a plastic operation called V-Y plasty or Z- plasty. This  procedure is more complicated than a circumcision. The foreskin is cut and stitched to widen it. This is not indicated in case of balanitis xerotica obliterans ( BXO). 

  Mr. Khan  can explain these treatments if they are suitable for you.

Ideal age of circumcision in children

Our audit at Thornhill Circumcision Centre, Luton, Bedforshire

incidence of complications in circumcision for 6 months olds is significantly lower when compared to 6 to 110 months old children.  We can conclude that under 6 months is the optimal age for non-therapeutic male circumcision in a community clinic using Circumplast and Plastibell devices.

Why biopsy is important in adult with balanitis xerotica obliteranes (BXO) or lichen sclerosis foreskin in phimosis (tight foreskin)

There are some association of skin cancer with BXO. In one of the series, incidence of skin cancer is reported 5.8%.  

In other series, incidence of BXO found adjacent to penile skin cancer is 33%. These findings raised a question whether BXO is pre-malignant condition. 

It is important to do biopsy of all BXO or lichen sclerosis foreskin to confirm the diagnosis and to rule out the concomitant skin cancer. Dr. Khan sends all foreskin with BXO for biopsy after the circumcision. 

Circumcision is strongly indicated if your foreskin shows signs and symptoms of BXO or lichen sclerosis which is causing tight foreskin. 

The British Association of Dermatologists has issued a guideline about MALE GENITAL (PENIS) LICHEN SCLEROSUS