Major penile injuries as a result of cautery during newborn circumcision.

AIM: To report a grading system for complications of male circumcision, and to represent our experience with salvage surgery for postcircumcision electro-cautery penile ablation injuries.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: Circumcision injuries presented to our department between January 2010 and January 2015 were collected and graded into five categories according to the degree of penile injury, and the possibility for surgical reversibility.

RESULTS: Salvage surgery was carried out on 5 cases of post circumcision total phallic loss (grade V injuries). One of the cases had a postoperative meatal stenosis that responded to dilation under general anesthesia. No skin graft problems were documented in the other cases. The cosmetic outlook was greatly appreciated by the family and the operating team at follow up of all cases.

CONCLUSION: Grading the post circumcision penile injuries is of paramount importance, and reconstructing the phallus using the hidden corporal bodies is considered worthwhile.