Investigating the outcomes of full thickness skin graft in the reconstruction of concealed penis in children aged 7 to 14 years

Concealed penis is a congenital anomaly that affects not only the appearance but also the function of the external genitalia in the male sex. Different surgical methods have been proposed to correct this disorder, including removal of the previous scar, penile shaft, penile trunk skin reconstruction with flap, penile skin fixation in penopubic and penoscrotal angles, and removal of extra pubic fat. In this study, we will discuss the results of definitive surgery in one stage using autogenous skin grafts and examine the details of this technique.

This study was conducted as a clinical trial in Hospitals related to the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences. Children over the age of 7 years old. A full-thickness graft with a length of 1.5 times the defect and a width of 1 cm was taken from the non-dominant thigh and defatted. The inguinal skin was chosen because it is hairless and next to the penis, and the resulting scar is easily hidden under clothing. Then, the graft was transferred to the operation site and fixed.

We proposed a method of treatment for concealed penis, using a full-thickness inguinal graft. Our technique showed promising results with minimal and negligible complications. To fully highlight each process’s benefits and limitations and evaluate them against one another, these procedures should, however, be tested on larger populations and compared comprehensively.

The study was conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences Research Ethics Committee (ethical code: IR.MUI.MED.REC.1402.073) And was registered on 27/05/2023 as a clinical trial in Iranian registry of clinical trials. (IRCT code: IRCT20230513058160N1)