Prevalence and Causes of Meatal Stenosis in Circumcised Boys

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and causes of meatal stenosis after circumcision in children. Between October 2018 and April 2019, we carried out a prospective cross-sectional study on 1031 circumcised boys, aged 5 to 8 years (mean age 6.1 years ± 0.3 years), enrolled in the first level of primary school in Oran (Algeria). All enrolled children underwent a genitourinary examination. Moreover, an anonymous questionnaire was filled-in by one of the parents. The screening revealed the presence of meatal stenosis in 185 children, representing a prevalence of 17.9 % of cases (95% CI = 15.6–20.3). Analysis of the results using both the univariate and multivariate mode brought out some common risk factors such as forceful retraction of the prepuce and the use of a healing product: Beta-sitosterol and Hydrocotyl (Centella Asiatica), rarely Trolamine. In addition, this study showed that boys circumcised during their first week of life are twice as likely to develop meatal stenosis than those circumcised between 7 and 12 months (OR = 2.08; 95% CI = 1.10–3.92, p = 0.021). Conclusion: this study showed that stenosis of the urethral meatus is a frequent complication of circumcision. Circumcision in the first week of life, a foreskin that adheres to the glans, and the use of a healing product were associated with the risk of stenosis development.