Lubrication of circumcision site for prevention of meatal stenosis in children younger than 2 years old.

Circumcision is one of the most common surgical operations throughout the world, and meatal stenosis is one its late complications. We evaluated the topical use of a lubricant jelly after circumcision in boys in order to reduce the risk of meatal stenosis.MATERIALS AND METHODSA randomized control trial was performed, in which 2 groups of boys younger the 2 years old underwent circumcision according to the sleeve method. The parents in the study group were instructed to use petroleum jelly on the circumcision site after each diaper change for 6 months. In the control group, no topical medication was used. The children were followed up regularly and evaluated for meatal stenosis, bleeding, infection, and recovery time.RESULTSA total of 197 boys in each group completed the study. None of the children in the study group but 13 (6.6%) in the control group developed meatal stenosis (P < .001). Infection of the circumcision site was seen in 3 (1.5%) and 23 (11.7%) children of the lubricant and control groups, respectively (P < .001), and bleeding was seen in 6 (3.0%) and 37 (18.8%), respectively (P < .001). The mean time of recovery in the lubricant group was 3.8 +/- 1.2 days, while it was 6.9 +/- 4.2 days in the control group (P = .03).CONCLUSIONBased on the findings of this study, it seems logical to use a lubricant jelly for reducing postcircumcision meatal stenosis and other complications.