Complete penile amputation
Complete penile amputation is perhaps the most tragic of all of the many complications of non-therapeutic infant circumcision. It refers to the total, complete ablation[1] or destruction of the penis by a surgical mishap. Penile ablation is said to be an extremely rare condition in advanced nations where circumcision is performed by trained medical doctors, but it is more common in developing nations where traditional circumcision is the usual practice.[2]
The former practice was to do "feminizing genitoplasty" or in other words, a sex-change operation on an infant boy,[3] however this was found to be unsatisfactory.[4]
Bradley et al. (1998) presented two cases of ablatio penis and discuss various ways of managing the condition. The first case presented is the same one later publicized by John Colapinto.[5]
More recently, penile re-implantation using leech therapy has been described.[6]
Xhosa circumcision
The Eastern Cape Province of South Africa is the home of the Xhosa people. The culture of the Xhosa includes many traditional practices, including a rite of passage to manhood called Ulwaluko. Ulwaluko includes a circumcision by a traditional practitioner. The circumcisions are not performed in accordance with modern medical practice. They are notorious for loss of penile skin, infection, gangrene, total loss of the penis, and even death.[7] Ulwaluko is viewed as an important part of Xhosa culture, so there is little interest on the part of governmental authorities on regulating the practice.[8]
The first succesful penile transplant[9] was the result of a loss of a boy's penis during the ulwaluko initation.[10]
See also
References
- ↑
(2012). Ablation
, The Free Dictionary. Retrieved 14 February 2022. - ↑
Appiah KAA, Gyasi-Sarpong CK, Azorliade R, et al. Circumcision-related tragedies seen in children at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana. BMC Urol. 8 November 2016; 16: 65. PMID. PMC. DOI. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ↑ Gearhart JP, Rock JA. Total ablation of the penis after circumcision with electrocautery: a method of management and long-term followup. J Urol. September 1989; 142(3): 799-801. PMID. DOI. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ↑ Diamond M, Sigmundson HK. Sex reassignment at birth. Long-term review and clinical implications. Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. March 1997; 151(3): 298-304. PMID. DOI. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ↑ Bradley SJ, Oliver GD, Chernick AB, Zucker KJ. Experiment of nurture: ablatio penis at 2 months, sex reassignment at 7 months, and a psychosexual follow-up in young adulthood. Pediatrics. July 1998; 102(1): e9. PMID. DOI. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ↑ Banihani OI, Fox JA, Gander BH, Grunwaldt LJ, Cannon GM. Complete penile amputation during ritual neonatal circumcision and successful replantation using postoperative leech therapy. Urology. 11 June 2014; 84(2): 472-4. PMID. DOI. Retrieved 14 February 2022.
- ↑
(17 July 2002)."Circumcision leaves 24 dead, 100 in hospital", The Star. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
- ↑
Ulwaluko
. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
Quote:The incompetence and indifference of the traditional leaders is astounding.
- ↑ van der Merwe A, Graewe F, Zühlke A, et al. Penile allotransplantation for penis amputation following ritual circumcision: a case report with 24 months of follow-up. Lancet. 9 September 2017; 390(10099): 1038-47. PMID. DOI. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
- ↑ Gallagher J (13 March 2015).
South Africans perform first 'successful' penis transplant
, BBC News. Retrieved 15 February 2022.
