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Case Reports
. 2019 Jul 11;19(1):65.
doi: 10.1186/s12894-019-0462-8.

Complications of high volume circumcision: glans amputation in adolescents; a case report

Mmatsie Manentsa  1 , Hilary Mukudu  1 , Nthabiseng Koloane  1 , Ashley Ringane  1 , Eleanor Matta  1 , Neil A Martinson  1 , Limakatso Lebina  2
Affiliations
Case Reports

Complications of high volume circumcision: glans amputation in adolescents; a case report

Mmatsie Manentsa et al. BMC Urol. .

Abstract

Background: The past four years has seen a rapid roll-out of male medical circumcision services in South Africa in response to clinical trials showing circumcision prevents HIV acquisition in heterosexual men. Clinics conduct substantial numbers of circumcisions per day. We report three cases of glans amputation in adolescents attending high volume clinics where modified Models of Optimising Volume and Efficiency (MOVE) are implemented.

Case presentations: Three cases of glans amputation in young healthy men that presented for voluntary medical male circumcision. The procedures were performed by highly experienced medical officers in two cases. All these cases shared characteristics: younger males with immature genitalia, forceps guided circumcision, and likely operator fatigue. Voluntary male medical circumcision programs should include regular monitoring and evaluation and training of operators to ensure high quality surgical techniques such as working in clean areas and taking frequent breaks.

Conclusion: Circumcision is a relatively simple medical procedure, however regular training and quality control in high volume Male Medical Circumcision sites is essential to prevent rare catastrophic adverse events.

Keywords: Adverse events; HIV prevention; MMC; Surgical circumcision.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no competing interests.

References

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    1. World Health Organization. UNAIDS joint strategic action framework to accelerate the scale-up of voluntary medical male circumcision for HIV prevention in eastern and southern Africa, 2012–2016. Geneva; 2011.
    1. World Health Organization . Considerations for implementing models for optimizing the volume and efficiency of male circumcision services. 2010.
    1. Rees H. PIC and SANAC end of term review of the NSP 2007–2011 final report 4. 2011.
    1. World Health Organization. Progress brief - voluntary medical male circumcision for HIV prevention in 14 priority countries of east and southern Africa, vol. 2017. Geneva; 2017.

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