Expert: Arthur Goldstein, M.D. - 1/8/2007

Question
Hello!
As per your requests, I am a male, age 19, and live in Knoxville, Tennessee.
I have an abnormally large skin bridge that covers about 15% of the coronal ridge, over the dorsal side of my glans penis. It is actually two separate connections of what looks to be a remnant of my foreskin which wasn't actually removed and seems to just grow out of the shaft of my penis. The underside of my penis seems to have been cut properly. I now have a few questions about this complication.
Firstly, can you explain to me how a skin bridge like this develops?
Secondly, is there anything I can do about it? Physically, it really doesn't cause much (if any) discomfort, although it does appear to tug the head of my penis down somewhat, as if it is pulling it towards the shaft. Also, it can interfere with the sexual sensitivity of that area of my penis.
In line with the last question, if I can have it removed, what sort of operation is required?
I appreciate your time and consideration in answering my concern and hope to hear back from you shortly.

Sincerely,
Eric

Answer
Eric, skin bridges are not an unusual complication of circumcision.  When the excessive foreskin is removed during a circumcision, you are left with 2 fresh raw edges.  One in the remnant of the inner foreskin which is the tissue just behind the head (glans penis) and the other is the cut edge of the skin of the shaft.  Most circumcisions done in newborns are performed with a clamp (rather than suture) and these 2 fresh edges are just "crushed" together.   They usually separate to varying degrees and the small space fills in with soft scar.  If the separation is more than usual but attachment remains is other areas, a skin bridge or adhesion forms.  These are very easily corrected and I have done so in the office many times in a few minutes.  All it requires is a small amount of local anesthesia injected into the adhesion.  The ends of the adhesion are each clamped with a hemostat and the bridge divided.  The 2 separated ends are each secured with a suture.  The latter dissolves in a few weeks and the resulting skin tag gradually  shrivels up.  Go see a urologist and have your problem taken care of quite easily.  Good luck.