Mass Circumcision with a Novel Plastic Clamp Technique

Abstract

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of mass circumcision performed using a plastic clamp. A total of 2013 males, including infants, children, adolescents, and adults were circumcised during a 7-day period by using a plastic clamp technique. Complications were analyzed retrospectively in regard to 4 different age groups. Postcircumcision sexual function and satisfaction rates of the adult males were also surveyed. The mean duration of circumcision was 3.6±1.2 minutes. Twenty-six males who were lost to follow-up were excluded from the study. The total complication rate was found to be 2.47% among the remaining 1987 males, with a mean age of 7.8±2.5 years. The highest complication rate (2.93%) was encountered among the children<2 years age, which was because of the high rate of buried penis (0.98%) and excessive foreskin (0.98%) observed in this group. The complication rates of older children, adolescents, and adults were slightly lower than the children<2 years age, at 2.39%, 2.51%, and 2.40%, respectively. Excessive foreskin (0.7%) was the most common complication observed after mass circumcision. Bleeding (0.6%), infection (0.55%), wound dehiscence (0.25%), buried penis (0.25%), and urine retention (0.1%) were other encountered complications. The erectile function and sexual libido in adolescents and adults was not affected by circumcision and a 96% satisfaction rate was obtained. Mass circumcision performed by a plastic clamp technique was found to be a safe and time-saving method of circumcising a large number of males at any age.