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Lower genital tract lesions requiring surgical intervention in girls: Perspective from a developing country
Author(s) -
Ekenze Sebastian O,
Mbadiwe Okezie M,
Ezegwui Hyginius U
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/j.1440-1754.2009.01574.x
Subject(s) - medicine , perspective (graphical) , intervention (counseling) , developing country , genital tract , female circumcision , general surgery , surgery , gynecology , psychiatry , physiology , economic growth , artificial intelligence , computer science , economics
Aim: To determine the spectrum, outcome of treatment and the challenges of managing surgical lesions of lower genital tract in girls in a low‐resource setting. Method: Retrospective study of 87 girls aged 13‐years and younger, with lower genital tract lesions managed between February 2002 and January 2007 at the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, southeastern Nigeria. Clinical charts were reviewed to determine the types, management, outcome of treatment and management difficulties. Results: The median age at presentation was 1 year (range 2 days–13 years). Congenital lesions comprised 67.8% and acquired lesions 32.2%. The lesions included: masculinised external genitalia (24), vestibular fistula from anorectal malformation (23), post‐circumcision labial fusion (12), post‐circumcision vulval cyst (6), low vaginal malformations (6), labial adhesion (5), cloacal malformation (3), bifid clitoris (3) urethral prolapse (3), and acquired rectovaginal fistula (2). Seventy‐eight (89.7%) had operative treatment. Procedure related complications occurred in 19 cases (24.4%) and consisted of surgical wound infection (13 cases), labial adhesion (4 cases) and urinary retention (2 cases). There was no mortality. Overall, 14 (16.1%) abandoned treatment at one stage or another. Challenges encountered in management were inadequate diagnostic facilities, poor multidisciplinary collaboration and poor patient follow up. Conclusion: There is a wide spectrum of lower genital lesion among girls in our setting. Treatment of these lesions may be challenging, but the outcome in most cases is good. High incidence of post‐circumcision complications and poor treatment compliance may require more efforts at public enlightenment.