Abstract

Objective: In this study, we investigated late complications of circumcision and presence of urogenital anomalies which exist at the time of the circumcision, which were not noticed and/or not operated, among primary school children in Kastamonu region. 

Materials and methods: Genital physical examination was performed on 992 circumcised, fifth class, 7-9-year-old primary school children with no health problem between 2005 and 2010, and the results were noted. 

Results: Excess foreskin was the only late complication of circumcision. The other most common urogenital anomalies in order of frequency were as follows; retractile testis, cryptorchidism, grade 3 infantile varicocele, inguinal hernia, hydrocele, penile rotation, and hypospadias. The rate of operating room circumcision was 14.3%. While 2 (1.2%) of the circumcision complications were determined by specialist physicians, the remaining 126 (15%) were found by healthcare workers practicing circumcision. The number of missed anomalies was “zero” in circumcisions performed by specialist physicians. 

Conclusion: The complication rate of circumcision is higher in circumcisions conducted by uneducated people as well as in mass circumcisions. In such cases, urogenital anomalies that require a combined surgical approach with circumcision are missed, resulting in practice of unnecessary secondary surgical interventions.