Circumcision Versus Preputioplasty for BXO in Children

Traditionally, BXO is managed with circumcision (surgical removal of the foreskin) and this approach has long been held as the 'gold standard. Whilst this may be curative in many cases, it has been shown that 20% of boys require a further operative procedure on their penis to widen the urethral opening (to treat meatal stenosis) An alternative to circumcision was proposed: a preputioplasty (surgery to widen the opening of the foreskin) was combined with injection of steroids into the affected foreskin. Subsequently, the same group compared the outcomes of this technique with circumcision, and reported circumcision was successfully avoided in 92% of the preputioplasty group. In addition, the rate of meatal stenosis (narrowing of the urethral opening requiring surgery) was significantly lower (6% vs 19%, P = .034 ). Preputioplasty may therefore: (i) offer protection against meatal stenosis and reduce the requirement for further surgery; and (ii) offer the benefit of retaining the foreskin, the function of which, while debated, likely includes sexual function. In view of these potential benefits, authors have called for a randomised trial to compare circumcision to preputioplasty and injection of steroids.