Mehmet Erhan AYDIN, Salih BÜRLÜKKARA, Aykut AYKAÇ, Coşkun KAYA, Mustafa SUNGUR
Archives of Current Medical Research - 2026;7(2):348-355
Background: Circumcision is one of the most frequently performed surgical procedures worldwide. While generally considered safe, the complication profiles of different circumcision techniques remain a subject of debate. This study aimed to compare early postoperative complications of two common techniques-modified dorsal slit and excision versus thermocautery-assisted circumcision-using the standardized Clavien-Dindo classification system. Methods: A retrospective review was conducted on 964 circumcisions performed between January 2019 and June 2022 in males aged 7-17 years. Patients were allocated into two groups: Group 1 underwent the modified dorsal slit and excision technique (n=558), while Group 2 underwent thermocautery-assisted circumcision (n=406). The primary outcome was early postoperative complications classified by the Clavien-Dindo system. Secondary outcomes included operative time and length of hospital stay. Results: The overall complication rate was 9.4%, with edema being the most common (8.0%). Group 1 had a significantly higher complication rate (12%) than Group 2 (5.9%) (p=0.012). Grade 1 complications occurred more frequently in Group 1 (10.9%) than Group 2 (5.7%) (p=0.004). Higher-grade complications (Grade 2 and 3a) were rare and not statistically different between groups. No Grade 3b or more severe complications were observed. Mean operative time and length of hospital stay were significantly shorterin Group 2 (5 minutes and 0-1 day) compared to Group 1 (9 minutes and 1-4 days) (p<0.001). Conclusions: Thermocautery-assisted circumcision demonstrated fewer early complications and shorter operative time and hospital stay compared with the modified dorsal slit and excision technique. These findings support thermocautery as a safe and efficient option in clinical practice.
