Retained Plastibell Device Following Neonatal Circumcision: A Case Report and Literature Review

Abstract

The Plastibell device is a known appliance/method for neonatal circumcision. The objective of the report is to describe one of the complications of neonatal circumcision using “Plastibell device” and to create awareness about this complication of a widely used surgical procedure. A 23-day-old male presented with swelling at the circumcision area of about five days. There was associated excessive crying while bathing or cleaning the area. The baby was circumcised 16 days earlier, by a nurse at a primary health centre and the object used for the circumcision – the Plastibell device was yet to fall off. The penis was oedematous and harboured a transparent cylindrical plastic object (Plastibell device). The distal third of the penis was depressed, and the glans penis was oedematous, but not cyanosed or gangrenous. There was no associated ulceration or discharge, and the patient was able to pass urine. The device was manually removed following lubrication. There was normal urinary function post-removal, and no associated complications on follow-up. In conclusion, retained Plastibell device is a complication of circumcision, and adequate parental counselling is vital. There is a need for re-education of health workers and upscaling of regulatory actions by governmental agencies and healthcare practitioners regarding its use of the Plastibell device.