Religious Circumcision (Khatna) and Circumcision Mishaps in Kashmiri Children

BACKGROUND: Male circumcision is recommended practice in Muslim tradition and one of the oldest operations performed all over the world. Male circumcision is universal in our Muslim-dominated valley of Kashmir for religious reasons. It can be performed by different techniques such as the conventional open methods, the device methods and sutureless methods. The objective of this study was to report our practice of male circumcision amongst children and compare the different common surgical techniques and highlight the circumcision mishaps conducted by quacks in the Kashmir Valley. MATERIALS AND METHODS: This was a comparative observational study conducted at SKIMS Medical College and Hospital, from 2017 to 2021. Children who presented for primary circumcision were subjected to one of two different surgical techniques; the dorsal slit or Guillotine method. The prospective analysis of children managed for circumcision mishaps conducted by non-professionals was also included in the study. Circumcisions done after 2 years of age were defined as delayed. The data were collected analysed using SPSS software (SPSS version 22, IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). RESULTS: Total of 689 Kashmiri Muslim male children between 1 day and 10 years of age over a period of 5 years were studied. Six hundred and fifty-five children for primary circumcision and 34 children managed for circumcision mishaps were included in the study. Amongst the subjects for primary circumcision, the most number of children were between 1 and 2 years of age (33.28%). One hundred and fourteen (25.73%) hospital-delivered babies and 201 (94.81%) home-delivered babies had delayed circumcision that is after 2 years of age (P = 0.00001). Religious requirement was the only indication for circumcision in this study. Three hundred and ninety-six (60.46%) children were circumcised with dorsal slit and 259 (39.54%) with guillotine method using computer-generated random numbers. Complications were found 8.08% of subjects in dorsal slit method as compared to 16.60% in guillotine technique (P = 0.008). Out of 34 children managed for circumcision mishaps, 11 (32.35%) presented with massive bleeding after primary circumcision by half doctors, 18 (52.94%) had incomplete circumcision, 3 (8.82%) had multiple skin bridges and 2 (5.88%) had incomplete circumcision with glans injury. All the patients with circumcision mishaps were treated with good outcome. There was no mortality. CONCLUSION: Circumcision occurs at a wide range of ages and male circumcision is universal in our Muslim-dominated valley for religious reasons. Circumcision by quacks and the associated complications are still prevalent in our society. The procedure is safe and free of any major complications when conducted by trained medical personnel under aseptic conditions of the operation theatre and hence should be encouraged.