Long-Term Risks
Complications of neonatal circumcision include:
1. Meatal stenosis
A minor late complication that is secondary to recurrent meatitis. Meatitis occurs in 8-31% of circumcised boys and an unknown incidence in uncircumcised boys as well. It is thought that the glans and meatus are unportected by the prepuce and ammonia produced by bacteria cause an irritant dermatitis and eventual scaring of the meatus ventrally. Rarely is a meatotomy required.
2. Adhesions of preputial remnant onto glans penis
This is due to poor post-operative care. To prevent this retract the preputial remnant off the glans and use white petrolatum on the diaper until the glans skin is cornified in about seven days.
3. Skin bridges or bands
These are single or multiple scar bands connecting the preputial remnant to the glans. Prevention involves good post-operative care with retraction of the preputial remnant off the glans and white petrolatum on the diaper until glans skin is healed and cornified (~7 days).
4. Recurrent phimosis
From an inadequate circumcision where too much prepuce is left and/or from poor post-operative care.
5. Concealed or entrapped penis
This is a complication of circumcision in which wound retraction forces the penis into the subcutaneous fat of the mons pubis. It is possibly due to an inadequate removal of prepuce and poor postoperative care or excessive foreskin removal causing penile shaft denudation and subsequant wound retraction.
6. Inclusion cysts
Very rare.
7. Urethrocutaneous fistula
Extremely rare.
8. Sexual dysfunction
Psychological trauma in later life? Anecdotal reports and non-scientific surveys suggest this. No good evidence to date.