Etiology, clinical manifestations, and management methods of cryptitis beside the preputial frenulum in men

Abstract Background: To understand the etiology, clinical manifestations, and management methods of cryptitis beside the preputial frenulum in men. Methods: The demographic data; shortest distance between the opening edges of the left and right crypts beside the preputial frenulum; and presence, shape, opening diameter, and depth of a blind cavity-like structure at the crypt were compared between the observation group and control group. The clinical manifestations were also recorded. Pathogen testing was performed on secretions from skin lesions, and antibiotic treatment was conducted. Results: Thirteen patients treated for cryptitis beside the preputial frenulum served as the observation group, and 40 healthy individuals served as the control group. The patients’ clinical manifestation was the presence of a yellowish oily substance embedded in the crypt. Wiping off the substance revealed a conical blind cavity-like structure with an opening diameter of 1 to 5mm (2.8±1.3mm) and depth of 1 to 4mm (2.5±1.1mm). No blind cavity-like structures in the crypt were found in the control group. The shortest distance between the opening edges of the bilateral crypts in the observation and control groups was 6 to 14mm (10.3±2.4mm) and 2 to 10mm (3.9±1.9mm), respectively, with a statistically significant difference. The three most common pathogens were Candida albicans, Staphylococcus aureus, and Escherichia coli. All patients recovered after treatment. Conclusion: A blind cavity-like structure in the crypt may be related to the excessive width of the preputial frenulum. Cryptitis may be a secondary infection caused by smegma trapped in the blind cavity-like structure. Antibiotic treatment is effective.