Penile Adhesions and Penile Skin Bridges

What are the signs and symptoms of a penile adhesion?

Penile adhesions generally don’t cause pain or discomfort. In a penile skin bridge, the penile shaft skin is attached to the head of the penis and develops a thick, permanent attachment. There may also be a band of skin from the shaft stuck to the head of the penis with a small tunnel underneath.

With all adhesions, children may have a white discharge (smegma) coming from the area of the adhesions. Sometimes smegma is mistaken for a cyst or pus under the skin, but it is not an infection and does not require antibiotics. Smegma is made of dead skin cells that accumulate underneath the adhesions.

What tests are used to diagnose a penile adhesion?

Your child’s doctor can usually diagnose a penile adhesion during a physical exam and recommend appropriate treatment based on the type of penile adhesion your child has.

How are penile adhesions treated?

Most penile adhesions cause no pain or discomfort and resolve on their own.

Penile skin bridges are usually easily separated with a small surgical cut during a clinic visit. Your child’s doctor will apply local anesthetic ointment before the procedure. In some cases, penile bridge separation is done under quick sedation in the operating room.

Most cases of cicatrix can be successfully treated with topical steroid cream. If topical medications don’t work, your child may need a circumcision revision and surgery to correct the trapped penis.

Why choose us for treatment of penile adhesions?

As a top-ranked children’s hospital, we have years of experience identifying and diagnosing conditions seen in newborns and young children. Doctors in our Department of Pediatric Urology are experts at treating common and severe cases of penile adhesion. We’re also happy to provide second opinions about the right treatment for your child.