title: Non-retractile foreskin: a single center 13-year experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Non-retractile foreskin comprise a significant number of referrals by pediatricians and general practitioners to pediatric surgical centers. In attempts to find alternatives to widely practised circumcision, various procedures have been developed over the years in order to relieve the non-fibrotic narrowing of the foreskin.
  
  
  METHODS
  In a 13-year period from 1984-1997, we treated 2554 patients with non-retractile foreskin at our center. Dorsal relieving incision was the technique of choice and was performed in 2177 patients, circumcision in 73 patients and preputial adhesiolysis was sufficient to retract the foreskin in 284 patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Satisfactory esthetic results, an extremely low rate of postoperative complications (1.8%) with a recurrence rate of only 0.8% (18 patients) was observed in our series with dorsal relieving incision.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Dorsal relieving incision operation was found to be a less invasive, safe and effective procedure for non-retractile foreskin not affected by extensive secondary scarring. This technique has fewer complications in comparison to circumcision and can be performed as an ambulatory procedure.
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Surgical University Clinic, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Saxena
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Schaarschmidt
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Reich
authors.forename: G H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Willital
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000556:Ambulatory Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002944:Circumcision, Male / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D019060:Minimally Invasive Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D009824:Ointments / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010205:Pantothenic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D010688:Phimosis / Q000601:surgery*; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D000267:Tissue Adhesions / Q000517:prevention & control; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D013521:Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D009824:Ointments; D010205:Pantothenic Acid; C007288:dexpanthenol