AUTHOR AND EDITOR INFORMATION

Section 1 of 8  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Follow-up
• References

INTRODUCTION

Section 2 of 8  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Follow-up
• References

Background

Genital disorders are commonly encountered in the office of the primary care physician. Meatal stenosis is a relatively common acquired condition occurring in 9-10% of males who are circumcised. This disorder is characterized by an upward deflected, difficult-to-aim urinary stream and, occasionally, dysuria and urgent, frequent, and prolonged urination. Surgical meatotomy is curative.

Pathophysiology

After circumcision, a child who is not toilet trained persistently exposes the meatus to urine, resulting in inflammation (ammoniacal dermatitis) and mechanical trauma as the meatus rubs against a wet diaper. This causes the loss of the delicate epithelial lining of the distal urethra. This loss may result in adherence of the epithelial lining at the ventral side, leaving a pinpoint orifice at the tip of the glans. Because this condition is exceedingly rare in children who are not circumcised, circumcision is believed to be the most important causative factor of meatal stenosis.

Another hypothetical cause of this condition is ischemia due to damage to the frenular artery during circumcision, resulting in poor blood supply to the meatus and subsequent stenosis. In a prospective study of circumcised boys, Van Howe (2006) found meatal stenosis in 24 of 239 (7.29%) children older than 3 years, making meatal stenosis the most common complication of circumcision.

Frequency

International

Incidence is 9-10% of males who are circumcised.

Mortality/Morbidity

• Meatal stenosis carries no mortality.
• Morbidity is limited to the clinical symptoms and complications of surgical repair including bleeding, infection, and recurrence.

Race

No racial predilection exists. The condition can occur in circumcised males independent of ethnicity.

Sex

Meatal stenosis only occurs in males.

Age

Children who are not toilet trained are more prone to have meatal stenosis after circumcision because of exposure of the meatus to urine in diapers. Usually children who are toilet trained can verbalize their difficulties during micturition to their caregivers.

CLINICAL

Section 3 of 8  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Follow-up
• References

History

• Difficult-to-aim (upward deflected), high-velocity (long distance) stream of urine
• Pain at initiation of micturition
• Need to stand back from toilet or sit during urination
• Burning at meatus
• Blood spots in underwear
• Urgent, frequent, and prolonged emptying of the bladder

Physical

• Diagnosis of meatal stenosis can be suspected by the presence of a small meatus during examination, particularly if, with lateral traction, the ventral edges of the meatus appear fused.
• Observation of the child while voiding helps immensely in confirming diagnosis of the disorder.
• If the physician desires to calibrate the meatus, Litvak et al report that the meatus of children younger than 1 year will accept a lubricated 5 French feeding tube. They also report that for children aged 1-6 years, an 8 French feeding tube should pass without difficulty.

Causes

• In a child who is circumcised, persistent exposure of the meatus to urine and mechanical trauma from rubbing against a wet diaper results in ammoniacal dermatitis, loss of meatal epithelium, and fusion of its ventral edges. This results in a pinpoint orifice at the tip of the glans.
• Other causes of meatal stenosis include the following:
• • Unsuccessful hypospadias repair
  • Trauma
  • Prolonged catheterization
• Balanitis xerotica obliterans (BXO), which is an unusual condition that causes a whitish discoloration and dry appearance of the glans, can also cause meatal stenosis. A 10-year retrospective series at Boston Children's Hospital included 41 patients with a median age of 10.6 years. Eighty five percent of the patients were aged 8-13 years. The disease process was found to involve the prepuce, the glans, and, sometimes, the urethra. The most common referral diagnoses included phimosis (52%), balanitis (13%), and buried penis (10%). In 46% of the patients, circumcision was curative. Twenty seven percent (11 patients) had meatal involvement that was treated by meatotomy and meatoplasty, and 22% required extensive plastic procedures of the penis including buccal mucosal grafts (Gargollo, 2005).
• • In children with BXO, meatal stenosis seems to be quite frequent.
  • Although BXO is difficult to treat, meatotomy yields good results in patients with BXO.

DIFFERENTIALS

Section 4 of 8  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Follow-up
• References

Other Problems to be Considered

Meatal stenosis is often missed as a complication of circumcision because boys do not get long-term follow-up care after this procedure.

Symptoms of meatal stenosis often are mistaken for urinary tract infections and, unfortunately, are treated empirically with antibiotics.

Impairment to distal urethral urinary flow may be ignored or go unrecognized for months until caregivers happen to witness the child with meatal stenosis void.

WORKUP

Section 5 of 8  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Follow-up
• References

Lab Studies

• Meatal stenosis is not a cause of urinary tract infections, hydronephrosis, or any form of obstruction of the lower urinary tract. For this reason, no further urological investigation is warranted. If the diagnosis is in question, observing the child void, with particular attention to the force of the stream (increased), caliber of the stream (decreased), and duration of the voiding episode (usually prolonged), is helpful. If an elimination disorder is suspected, noninvasive urodynamics such as uroflow with electromyography (pad electrodes) and measurement of bladder capacity and postvoid residuals could be indicated. If associated infection is a possibility, urinalysis with culture should be obtained.

TREATMENT

Section 6 of 8  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Follow-up
• References

Surgical Care

• Serial dilatation results in small tears of the meatus, which are followed by secondary healing. In the long term, this creates a tighter stricture at the tip of the penis; therefore, this procedure is discouraged.
• Meatotomy is the definitive treatment for meatal stenosis. Meatotomy is a simple procedure in which the ventrum of the meatus is crushed (for hemostasis) for 60 seconds with a straight mosquito hemostat and then divided with fine-tipped scissors.
• Brown et al report excellent results following 130 office meatotomies with only 2 recurrences of meatal stenosis and 1 patient with bleeding requiring stitches. They also cite the cost-effectiveness of this treatment and note good patient tolerance when a caring approach is used to reassure the child before and during the procedure. In this series, parents were encouraged to remain with the kids during the operation, as their presence seemed to have a calming effect.
• • If the caregivers and the patient are cooperative, this procedure can be performed in the office of the physician using a topical eutectic mixture of local anesthetics (EMLA cream) applied liberally over the entire glans and secured in place for at least one hour with an occlusive dressing.
  • After being in place for one hour, the dressing is removed and the penis is prepared and draped into a sterile field.
  • Throughout this procedure, reassure the child and tell him what is being done.
  • Introduce one blade of a straight mosquito hemostat into the meatus and crush the ventrum of the meatus (approximately 3 mm) by closing the hemostat. This provides adequate hemostasis in most cases.
  • Divide the crushed area with a straight fine-tipped scissor and apply an antibiotic ointment.
  • After the operation, it is critical that the caregivers separate the edges of the meatus and apply antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly 2 times a day for 2 weeks and then 1 time a day for another 2 weeks to prevent one side of the meatotomy from adhering to the other side. Some medical professionals recommend dilation with a lubricated feeding tube or the tip of an ophthalmic ointment tube for a period of 4-8 weeks.
  • In a survey of office pediatric urologic procedures, which included meatotomy, lysis of labial adhesions, and newborn circumcision, Smith (2000) found that 95 of 99 parents stated that they were satisfied with their decision to have these procedures performed in the office and 95% reported good outcomes (only 1 patient had recurrent meatal stenosis).
  • Mild dysuria may be present for 1-2 days after meatotomy. If dysuria results in urinary retention, placing the child in a tub of warm water may stimulate micturition.

Consultations

If the primary care physician is unwilling to perform a meatotomy, encourage consultation with a pediatric urologist.

Activity

• After meatotomy, instruct caregivers to dress the child in loose underwear for 24 hours.
• Restrict activities, such as contact sports, bicycle rides, and playground activities, for 3-4 days.

FOLLOW-UP

Section 7 of 8  

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Follow-up
• References

Further Outpatient Care

• Following meatotomy, caregivers should separate the edges of the meatus and apply antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly 2 times a day for 2 weeks and then 1 time a day for 2 more weeks.

Complications

• Complications include bleeding during or after meatotomy, infection, and recurrence. All of these complications are quite rare and respond readily to appropriate management.
• Mild dysuria may persist for 1-2 days. Placing the child in a tub of warm water may provide relief.

Prognosis

• Prognosis is excellent. Meatotomy cures the symptoms of most patients.

Patient Education

• For excellent patient education resources, visit eMedicine's Men's Health Center. Also, see eMedicine's patient education articles Foreskin Problems and Circumcision.

REFERENCES

Section 8 of 8

• Authors and Editors
• Introduction
• Clinical
• Differentials
• Workup
• Treatment
• Follow-up
• References

• Brown MR, Cartwright PC, Snow BW. Common office problems in pediatric urology and gynecology. Pediatr Clin North Am. Oct 1997;44(5):1091-115. [Medline].
• Frank JD, Pocock RD, Stower MJ. Urethral strictures in childhood. Br J Urol. Dec 1988;62(6):590-2. [Medline].
• Garat JM, Chechile G, Algaba F, Santaularia JM. Balanitis xerotica obliterans in children. J Urol. Aug 1986;136(2):436-7. [Medline].
• Gargollo PC, Kozakewich HP, Bauer SB, et al. Balanitis xerotica obliterans in boys. J Urol. Oct 2005;174(4 Pt 1):1409-12. [Medline].
• Litvak AS, Morris JA, McRoberts JW. Normal size of the urethral meatus in boys. J Urol. Jun 1976;115(6):736-7. [Medline].
• Persad R, Sharma S, McTavish J, et al. Clinical presentation and pathophysiology of meatal stenosis following circumcision. Br J Urol. Jan 1995;75(1):91-3. [Medline].
• Sijstermans K, Hack WW, Bos SD, van der Horst HJ. [Urethral meatal stenosis in boys easily overlooked]. Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd. Dec 10 2005;149(50):2765-9. [Medline].
• Smith C, Smith DP. Office pediatric urologic procedures from a parental perspective. Urology. Feb 2000;55(2):272-6. [Medline].
• Stenram A, Malmfors G, Okmian L. Circumcision for phimosis: a follow-up study. Scand J Urol Nephrol. 1986;20(2):89-92. [Medline].
• Van Howe RS. Incidence of meatal stenosis following neonatal circumcision in a primary care setting. Clin Pediatr (Phila). Jan-Feb 2006;45(1):49-54. [Medline].

Article Last Updated: Jun 12, 2006