A foreign body within the foreskin of a 10-year-old boy

Abstract

Self-inserted foreign bodies in the adult male genitalia are typically the result of autoerotic activity and occasionally require removal by a urologist. In children, the problem is extremely rare and usually accidental. We present a case in which a small action figure was inserted in the foreskin of a child. A 10-year-old boy presented with a swollen red penis and a foreign body that he had inserted in the foreskin 3 h earlier. He had made several unsuccessful attempts to remove it. The foreign body was removed under general anesthesia. The variety of objects and place of insertion of foreign bodies is surprising, and removal may be quite challenging, sometimes requiring surgical intervention. Unlike in adults, for whom pleasure is the main reason for penis play, curiosity can drive young boys to insert small toys within the space of the small, stretchable foreskin. 

Keywords: foreign body, foreskin, pediatric, penis