Penile skin necrosis - complication following selfcircumcision

Abstract

Circumcision is one of the commonest operations performed throughout the world for ritual, traditional or medical reasons. Self-circumcision may lead to disastrous complications. There have been reports of the complications following use of the constricting devices for improved sexual performance and for auto-erotic intentions, but cases of self-circumcision leading to complications such as necrosis of the penile skin and strangulation of the penis are very rarely reported. This case represents penile skin necrosis in a 55-year-old white English man following an attempt at self-circumcision with a medically unapproved plastic device available in the market. He recovered after surgical debridement and treatment with antibiotics.

Penile self-harm: a case report and concise clinical review

“…Reported sequelae include necrotizing fasciitis, ischaemic gangrene, urethrocutaneous fistula, erectile dysfunction and depression. Morbidity increases proportionally with both the duration and degree of constriction [7,8]. In this case, thanks to the placement of the subpreputial rigid plastic ring, on to which the band had constricted only the prepuce, the glans penis was spared.…”

“…The association of male genital self-harm with suicide and serious psychopathology mandates urgent psychiatric assessment for all men presenting with penile selfmutilation [6,8].…”

A novel complication of self-circumcision: penile skin avulsion

“…[1,2] It is usually performed in childhood by experienced medical staff or untrained people. [3] Reports on selfcircumcision are scarce in literature. [1,[3][4][5][6][7] Adult males comprised most of the cases, and they were reported to use medically unapproved plastic or metallic device for the procedure.…”

“…[3] Reports on selfcircumcision are scarce in literature. [1,[3][4][5][6][7] Adult males comprised most of the cases, and they were reported to use medically unapproved plastic or metallic device for the procedure. [1,3,6] Some reported complications of self-circumcision are bleeding, infection, urethral damage, penile strangulation, skin necrosis, laceration and necrotizing fasciitis.…”

“…[1,[3][4][5][6][7] Adult males comprised most of the cases, and they were reported to use medically unapproved plastic or metallic device for the procedure. [1,3,6] Some reported complications of self-circumcision are bleeding, infection, urethral damage, penile strangulation, skin necrosis, laceration and necrotizing fasciitis. [1,3,5,7] Reasons for carrying out the procedure on one's own are diverse including poor economic status, fear of the procedure, depression, etc.…”