Can a frenuloplasty performed during circumcision lead to meatal stenosis?

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to investigate the role of frenuloplasty in developing meatal stenosis (MS) in boys who underwent frenuloplasty and those whose frenulum was preserved. Patients and methods: Between June 2022 and July 2023, medical data of a total of 308 male patients who were circumcised using a guillotine or squeezing technique with an Alisklamp were retrospectively analyzed. The patients were divided into two groups based on whether frenuloplasty was performed during circumcision. Group 1 (frenuloplasty with circumcision, n=153 [mean age: 62.6±39.0 months; range, 2 to 132 months]) and Group 2 (frenulum preserved, n=155 [mean age: 6.7±3.9 months; range, 2 to 22 months]) were both evaluated for the development of complications, including MS after circumcision. Results: Wound infection was observed in one patient in Group 1 and post-circumcision bleeding and secondary phimosis were observed in two patients in Group 2. When the parents were questioned about the urination habits of their children in the outpatient clinic follow-ups, there were no complaints of decreased urine thickness, prolonged urination, or difficulty in starting to urinate. In the outpatient follow-up at one week, one month, and six months, the external urethral meatus was evaluated as normal. In the external genital examinations performed at one week, one month, and six months after circumcision, the external urethral meatus was evaluated as normal in all patients. Conclusion: Meatal stenosis is not a common complication of circumcision, and frenuloplasty is not a risk factor for developing MS.