It is an acquired disease that can be seen in approximately 9-10% of circumcised patients. If this stenosis is accepted as 5 Fr (approximately 2 mm) and below, this rate may even increase to 20% in circumcised individuals. Children with meatal stenosis typically present with complaints such as thin and upward urination, inability to direct the urine to the required target, rarely a burning sensation during urination, urgent, frequent and prolonged urination. In addition, from time to time, blood stains can be seen on the panties.
How and Why it occurs:
In children who have not yet been toilet trained, the urine outlet hole (mea) is in constant contact with the urine. This causes mechanical trauma due to rubbing against a damp and wet cloth, and ammonia dermatitis and inflammation of the meatus. Loss of the sensitive epithelial layer at the tip of the urethra then leads to fusion of the epithelial layer on the anterior surface of the urethra, resulting in a narrow opening at the glans penis. Circumcision is believed to be the most important factor for meatal stenosis, as this condition is so rare in uncircumcised children.
Other Causes of Meatal Stenosis:
Previous hypospadias surgeries
Trauma
Prolonged catheterization
Balanitis xerotica obliterans (BXO): Glans an unusual condition that gives a whitish discoloration and a dry appearance. Meatal stenosis occurs in at least 20% of these patients.
Treatment of meatal stenosis is surgery (meatotomy and meatoplasty). The prognosis after surgery is excellent. The direction of urine flow improves after surgery. There is no mortality in these surgeries, but very rarely bleeding, infection and re-narrowing of the meat (recurrence) can be seen. If complaints persist after surgery (such as pain on urination or intermittent urination), an underlying voiding dysfunction should be kept in mind. In such a case, methodomy and meatoplasty do not regress these complaints.
