Some Complications of Circumcision and Their Surgical Repair

Abstract
Complications of circumcision have most commonly consisted of bleeding and infection, the latter usually mild.1,2 However, serious and even fatal infections have occurred as a result of both ritual and medical circumcision. Diphtheritic infection of the wound,3 fatal staphylococcal bronchopneumonia,4 staphylococcal septicemia resulting in osteomyelitis of the femur,5 and tetanus6 have been reported. Of more immediate interest to the physician, be he general practitioner, plastic surgeon, urologist, obstetrician, or general surgeon, are the complications of circumcision resulting in deformity or dysfunction of the penis itself. It is the purpose of this paper to report several complications of circumcision requiring surgical repair. Concealed Penis A 2-month-old male infant was admitted to St. Louis Children's Hospital because of penile deformity and difficulty in urination. The history indicated that the infant at birth was a normal, full-term child except that the penis seemed shorter than normal. Circumcision was