Post-Circumcision Complications in a Tertiary Institution in Nigeria: A Three-Year Study

Abstract

Background: Circumcision is an operation practiced in various parts of the world for different reasons. In Nigeria today, circumcision is a customary rite for males and occasionally done in females in some parts of the country. The process of circumcision which appear simple to the untrained hands could be associated with severe complications and may even result in mortality. AIM: To determine the spectrum of post-circumcision complications seen at Olabisi Onabanjo University Teaching Hospital (OOUTH), Sagamu between July 2005 - June 2008 (36 months). DESIGN: A three-year retrospective study of post-circumcision complications seen during the study period. SETTING: Paediatric Surgery Division, Department of Surgery, OOUTH, Sagamu. METHODOLOGY: Case-notes of all children with post-circumcision complications were retrieved from the medical record department and analysed using SPSS version 10. RESULT: Twenty-two cases were studied. 21 (95.5%) were males while 1 (4.5%) was a female. All the cases studied were operated outside the hospital and referred to the study centre for further management of their complications. The age range was 12 days to 3 years. Circumcision was done during the neonatal period in 16 (72.7%) and outside the neonatal period in 6 (27.3%). The indications for circumcision in all the cases were non-medical and included religious, cultural and social reasons. The post-circumcision complications managed during the study period were the following: buried penis 7 (31.8%), incomplete removal of prepuce 6 (27.2%), urethro-cutaneous fistula 4 (18.2%), severe anemia from haemorrhage 2 (9.0%), dermoid cyst of the clitoris 1 (4.5%) retained plastibell ring 1 (4.5%), meatal stenosis 1 (4.5%). Two of the patients with urethro-cutaneous fistula had recurrence after repair. CONCLUSION: Circumcision is a surgical procedure commonly done during the neonatal period in our environment for males mostly and rarely females. It is sometimes followed by severe complications.