Alan A. Woodward

The response of phimosis to local steroid application

The effectiveness of topical steroid application in relieving phimosis was studied in 63 boys treated with local application of steroid ointment to the foreskin. Betamethasone valerate 0.05% (42 patients), hydrocortisone 1% (18 patients), or hydrocortisone 2% (3 patients) was applied three times daily for 4 weeks. Thirty-seven of the patients treated with 0.05% betamethasone valerate ointment (half-strength Betnovate) showed an initial improvement and circumcision was performed on 5 non-responders. Six patients showed initial improvement but later redeveloped phimosis: they were given a further course of treatment, resulting in 2 satisfactory responses and 4 failures requiring circumcision. Two patients using 2% hydrocortisone and 16 using 1% hydrocortisone ointment showed improvement, but 2 of the latter group ultimately required circumcision. Overall, a permanent improvement was achieved in 51 of the 63 patients, with the ability to retract the foreskin after one or more treatments. The remaining 12 boys required circumcision. Local application of steroid ointment to the foreskin results in resolution of phimosis in the majority of cases, but if the foreskin has a circumferential white scar, it is slightly less likely to respond. Following cessation of steriods, phimosis redevelops in a proportion of patients.

The ascending testis

This study relates the timing and incidence of orchidopexy to possible ascent of the testis. During 1985, 341 patients underwent surgery for undescended testes at the Royal Childrens Hospital, Melbourne. In 85 (25%), surgery was performed before 2 years of age. The number of children managed surgically over the age of 2 years is high (75%) despite our surgical policy to perform orchidopexy at 2 years of age. Statistical analysis shows a bimodal distribution for age at the time of surgery for undescended testis, with 16% of the orchidopexy population in the older age group. It also demonstrates that the overall orchidopexy rate of 2.6% is three times the expected incidence of undescended testes at 1 year of age. Possible explanations for these observations include: (1) the diagnosis and referral of undescended testis is being made late; (2) surgery is being performed on retractile testes; or (3) some later presenting undescended testes are acquired, the so-called ascending testes.

Balanitis xerotica obliterans with urethral stricture after hypospadias repair

Abstract Three cases of urethral stricture due to balanitis xerotica obliterans (BXO) after hypospadias repair are reported. The first patient showed white, dense scarring on the prepuce before the hypospadias repair and developed a stricture of the urethra after the operation. The second and the third were uneventful for 6 and 2 years, respectively, after the hypospadias repair, and then developed urethral strictures. Pathologic diagnosis of the stenotic lesion is essential. Complete excision of the affected urethra with topical steroid ointment or sublesional triamcinolone injection is recommended for this condition. Although the complication of BXO after hypospadias repair is rare (3 out of 796 cases with hypospadias in our series), surgeons need to be aware of this condition as a cause for late onset of urethral problems.

Jones' clinical paediatric surgery :

Introduction: Antenatal Diagnosis and Genetic Counselling Care and Transport of the Newborn The Child in Hospital Neonatal Emergencies Head and Neck Abdomen Urinary Tract Trauma Orthopaedics Chest Skin and Soft Tissues Index

Congenital lumbar and sciatic herniae in an infant

Lumbar hernia is a rare occurrence in childhood and infancy; sciatic herniation is even more unusual. The clinical details of a neonate with a lumbar hernia who later was noted to have a sciatic hernia is presented, together with a review of the literature.

Bladder continent catheterizable conduit (the Mitrofanoff procedure): Long-term issues that should not be underestimated

BACKGROUND Effective bladder emptying by clean intermittent catheterization for children with severe bladder dysfunction is critical for renal preservation and social integration. Use of a continent catheterizable conduit (CCC) as urethral alternative procedure provides effective bladder drainage. However, it brings a substantive maintenance. METHODS Retrospective review of the indications and long-term outcomes of 54 patients with a Mitrofanoff procedure in a single center over a 20-year period (1995-2015). RESULTS Indications of CCC include 21 neurogenic bladders, 12 patients with epispadias/exstrophy, 13 bladder outlet obstruction, 6 malignancies and 2 cloaca. Median age at surgery was 8.3years (4months-20years). The appendix was used in 76% of cases. Most frequently encountered complication was stomal stenosis (n=17/34, 50%), occurring at median time of 9months (2months-13years). The other complications were: leakage in 9 (26.5%); conduit stricture in 5 (14.7%), angulation of the conduit in 2 (5.8%) and prolapse in one (3%). Operative revision was encountered by 33 (61%) patients, the majority in the first 2years. Median follow-up was 4.3years (3months-16years). CONCLUSIONS CCC has a high incidence of complication. It has to be used only when the native urethra is not suitable for catheterization. Carers, patients and families must be prepared to deal with both the complexity of index conditions and the complications of this procedure.

Use of the pulse oximeter in the assessment of mesenteric circulation in a case of gastroschisis

Pulse oximetry of the bowel mesentery proved useful in the assessment of the adequacy of circulation to the congested and oedematous bowel in a case of gastroschisis.

Idiopathic unilateral benign macro-orchidism

Unilateral benign macro-orchidism is a rare condition. An 11-year-old boy who had painless unilateral testicular enlargement is presented. The diagnosis was confirmed histologically. The differential diagnosis includes neoplastic disease, and biopsy of the testis is recommended to establish the diagnosis.