Topical corticosteroids offer an effective alternative for treating phimosis in boys .
Although sub optimal reporting among the included studies meant that the size of the effect remains uncertain , corticosteroids appear to be a safe , less invasive first-line treatment option before undertaking surgery to correct phimosis in boys
BACKGROUND Until recently , phimosis has been treated surgically by circumcision or prepuceplasty ; however , recent reports of non-invasive treatment using topical corticosteroids applied for four to eight weeks have been favourable .
The efficacy and safety of topical corticosteroids for treating phimosis in boys has not been previously systematic ally review ed .
OBJECTIVES We aim ed to 1 ) compare the effectiveness of the use of topical corticosteroid ointment applied to the distal stenotic portion of the prepuce in the resolution of phimosis in boys compared with the use of placebo or no treatment , and 2 ) determine the rate of partial resolution ( improvement ) of phimosis , rate of re-stenosis after initial resolution or improvement of phimosis , and the rate of adverse events of topical corticosteroid treatment in boys with phimosis .
Topical clobetasol propionate compared with placebo in the treatment of unretractable foreskin.
OBJECTIVE To assess whether it is the steroid alone or the gentle physical retraction combined with ointment that is responsible for the excellent results observed with topical steroid treatment of unretractable foreskin . DESIGN Prospect i ve , r and omised , double-blind study . SETTING University hospital , Sweden . SUBJECTS 30 Boys r and omised to be treated with clobetasol propionate ( n = 15 ) or placebo ( n = 15 ) . INTERVENTIONS The boys were examined 1 , 2 and 6 months , respectively , after treatment . MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Comparison between the effects of clobetasol propionate and placebo .  RESULTS Two patients in the steroid group and one in the placebo group withdrew from the study . 10 Boys in the steroid group showed an improvement within 2 months . The remaining 3 boys had no effect and were circumcised . Histopathological examination showed lichen sclerosus et atrophicus . Seven boys in the placebo group improved . The 7 non-responders were prescribed  clobetasol propionate ointment  , and all 7 improved . CONCLUSION 17 of 27 boys referred with " phimosis " were successfully treated with an ointment and gentle traction . When clobetasol propionate was given the non-responders success rate was increased to 24/27 ( 89 % )
Topical corticosteroids offer an effective alternative for treating phimosis in boys .
Although sub optimal reporting among the included studies meant that the size of the effect remains uncertain , corticosteroids appear to be a safe , less invasive first-line treatment option before undertaking surgery to correct phimosis in boys
BACKGROUND Until recently , phimosis has been treated surgically by circumcision or prepuceplasty ; however , recent reports of non-invasive treatment using topical corticosteroids applied for four to eight weeks have been favourable .
The efficacy and safety of topical corticosteroids for treating phimosis in boys has not been previously systematic ally review ed .
OBJECTIVES We aim ed to 1 ) compare the effectiveness of the use of topical corticosteroid ointment applied to the distal stenotic portion of the prepuce in the resolution of phimosis in boys compared with the use of placebo or no treatment , and 2 ) determine the rate of partial resolution ( improvement ) of phimosis , rate of re-stenosis after initial resolution or improvement of phimosis , and the rate of adverse events of topical corticosteroid treatment in boys with phimosis .