Buried Penis is a condition in which the penis appears small because it is largely concealed in the body cavity, either because of a short suspensory ligament or because of a large pad of pubic fat. In the absence of any other conditions (such as cryptorchidism) it can be regarded as being within the broad spectrum of normality.The penis will emerge at normal size during childhood or at puberty. The following images illustrate buried penis in a young boy with normally descended testes:
[All the above photos © 2009 Chulalongkorn University]
Some doctors are reluctant to circumcise in cases of buried penis, though others regard it as normal - particular Jewish and Muslim doctors for whom circumcision is an important rite. One problem that may occur is adhesions around the glans, though these usually resolve spontaneously around puberty. Another problem, more perceived than real, is that the boy may not appear to be 'properly circumcised'. This, too, will be resolved at puberty.
The following images, kindly provided by the Malaysian company Sunathrone Bio-Medical, show the circumcision of a rather chubby boy using their patent disposable clamp. The clamp design is especially suited to this task; the wide flange of the part worn during the healing period prevents the glans withdrawing into the abdomen where skin bridges might otherwise be formed.
