Non-retractile foreskin: a single center 13-year experience

Background: Non-retractile foreskin comprise a significant number of referr als by pediatricians and general practitioners to pediatric surgical center s. In attempts to find alternatives to widely practised circumcision, vario us procedures have been developed over the years in order to relieve the no n-fibrotic narrowing of the foreskin. Patients and Methods: In a 13-year period from 1984-1997, we treated 2554 p atients with non-retractile foreskin at our center. Dorsal relieving incisi on was the technique of choice and was performed in 2177 patients, circumci sion in 73 patients and preputial adhesiolysis was sufficient to retract th e foreskin in 284 patients. Results: Satisfactory esthetic results, an extremely low rate of postoperat ive complications (1.8%) with a recurrence rate of only 0.8% (18 patients) was observed in our series with dorsal relieving incision. Conclusions: Dorsal relieving incision operation was found to be a less inv asive, safe and effective procedure for non-retractile foreskin not affecte d by extensive secondary scarring. This technique has fewer complications i n comparison to circumcision and can be performed as an ambulatory procedur e.