Urinary bladder rupture in an 18-day-old boy following circumcision at a health centre in Uganda

Abstract

An 18-day-old boy with a recent history of circumcision presented with abdominal swelling and a prolonged cessation of urina­tion. Physical examination revealed abdominal distension and a firm penile dressing. A diagnosis of peritonitis was made, and uri­nary bladder rupture with ascites was revealed by laparotomy. He had an uneventful postoperative recovery and was discharged on the seventh postoperative day. One month after surgery, he was well with normal bladder function and no evidence of urethral stricture formation. Urinary bladder rupture is a rare complication of circumcision; in this case, it possibly resulted from the occlu­sive dressing. Early identification is key to achieving favourable outcomes for such patients.