Bone cutting and heat cautery circumcision

Introduction
Circumcision is the removal of the foreskin of the penis. The practice of circumcision dates to ancient times. Studies consistently report that uncircumcised male infants are at higher risk for urinary tract infection compared with circumcised male infants. Uncircumcised men are at increased risk for inflammation of the glans.
Aim of the work
The aim of this study was to evaluate heat cautery circumcision and to avoid postcircumcision bleeding and reintervention.
Patients and methods
This prospective, observational study was performed on male patients attending Assiut University Hospital, General Surgery Department, and El-Jaafareya Private Hospital for routine circumcision either as outpatients and/or inpatients; of them, three were haemophilia cases. Bone cutting and heat cautery circumcision was performed. No antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs were given as a routine. Postoperative pain was managed with paracetamol or declophin suppositories.
Results
A total of 518 boys were subjected to bone cutting and heat cautery circumcision. Their mean age was 3.31 ΁ 2.33 years. Complications occurred in 24 cases (4.7%): 13 patients developed inflammatory oedema (2.5%); five patients developed infection (1%); and six cases (1.2%) developed excess skin, which was recircumcised. No bleeding, burn or injury to the glans or urethra occurred.
Conclusion
Bone cutting and heat cautery circumcision is a safe procedure, with no bleeding even in the three haemophilia cases. No sutures are needed. Oedema and infection were minimal and were controlled with medical treatment.