Ballooning

Having researched this topic extensively, the medical literature describes ballooning as part of the normal development of the penis. It should only be treated if urine will only come out as fine mist.

There have been only three cases reported in the literature of phimosis causing obstructive uropathy. Ballooning does not necessarily equate preputial stenosis (phimosis).

If treatment is needed, radical circumcision is now considered obsolete. 80-95% of boys with preputial stenosis will respond to topical steroid creams. 75% of boys will respond to stretching under local anesthetic. If surgery is needed, preputioplasty has been shown to be effective with less pain and morbidity, and does not remove any tissue. Instead, the tissue is moved around to allow a larger opening.

If there is a concern of kidney disease, non-invasive baseline studies should be performed now.

Robert S. Van Howe, M.D.

For the sake of space I have not listed the references in this posting, but I do have them available.

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