James A., Campbell D., and Majure H.

A patient centric review of the experiential & clinical data associated with the safety, efficacy, tolerability & usability of the Novoglan foreskin tissue expander to treat uncomplicated phimosis – post marketing surveillance program

Introduction:

A market review of foreskin tissue expander devices was conducted in 2005 to assess the availability of devices to treat uncomplicated adult phimosis and to gage their efficacy, tolerability, safety and usability via targeted online survey [27].

The results were analysed and it was concluded that existing devices were inappropriate or sub optimal [27]. A wide ranging review of the literature about phimosis as well as skin stretching generally, resulted in the development of the Novoglan medical device that uses a specialised balloon to stretch the foreskin and expand the delicate tissue[20]. The product prototype was developed in 2005 and was formally launched in 2006.

This paper provides a patient centric review of the experiential and clinical data associated with safety, efficacy, tolerability and usability of the Novoglan foreskin tissue expander to treat uncomplicated phimosis, as captured in the manufacturer and sponsors post marketing surveillance program.

Phimosis:

In simple terms, phimosis refers to “a condition in which the foreskin of the penis cannot stretch to allow it to be pulled back past the glans” [1]. More technically, Cold and Taylor refer to phimosis as being characterized by a stenosis of the foreskin resulting in the inability of the prepuce to retract over the glans. They also make a distinction between pathological phimosis and physiological phimosis. Pathologic phimosis can occur at any age among uncircumcised adult men and is frequently associated with infections such as balanitis. [2]

The incidence of adult phimosis is open to conjecture as research approaches have been inconsistent, however, some authors report an incidence of around 1% [3] but the incidence of adult circumcision typically linked to phimosis has been reported as high as 15.8% in the UK [4]. Schöberlein [5] found phimosis in 8.5% of 3,000 men mostly aged 18 to 22 and representing 10.4% of the uncircumcised men. Rickwood, as well as other authors, has suggested that true phimosis is over-diagnosed due to failure to distinguish between normal developmental non-retractability and a pathological condition [6].

Male phimosis is characterized by a stenosis of the foreskin resulting in the inability of the prepuce to retract over the glans. Physiological phimosis is a condition in infants and boys which usually disappears by the age of 10 [1,2]. Pathologic phimosis can occur at any age among uncircumcised adult men and is frequently associated with infections such as balanitis, chronic inflammation, repeated catheterization, forcible foreskin retraction and injury [1]. We refer to phimosis in the absence of infection, observable inflammation, injury, other disease, and scar tissue, as “uncomplicated phimosis”.

Grading Severity of Phimosis:

To assist with a more robust understanding of efficacy of Phimosis treatments, Kikiros, Beasley and Woodward developed a grading system to diagnose the severity of phimosis. [7]

• Grade 1: full retraction of foreskin, tight behind the glans.
• Grade 2: partial exposure of glans, prepuce (not congenital adhesions) limiting factor.
• Grade 3: partial retraction, meatus just visible.
• Grade 4: minimal retraction, with minor distance between tip and glans (notably, meatus nor glans exposed).
• Grade 5: No visible retraction of the foreskin.

Phimosis Treatments:

Adult phimosis can cause significant and often painful symptoms such as urinary difficulties, frequent infections or ballooning of the foreskin during urination, sexual disfunction, disfigurement, pain during sex, mental health issues and partner dissatisfaction have all been documented in the literature [8].

The most common treatment for adult phimosis is circumcision [ 9].

Marco and Heil [10] conducted a review in support of circumcision and concluded that there was no consensus on whether or not circumcision resulted in more side effects than benefits. Their report covers the impact on infant circumcision on adult sexual function. However, In a very large study of 5552 people, reported by Frisch and Lindholm [11], they concluded that Circumcision was associated with frequent orgasm difficulties in men and with a range of frequent sexual difficulties in women, notably orgasm difficulties, dyspareunia and a sense of incomplete sexual needs fulfilment. McMahons [12 ] review of disorders of orgasm and ejaculation in men, reported that circumcised men were three times more likely than uncircumcised men to experience frequent orgasm difficulties which, according to an international expert panel, are either psychogenic or due to reduced penile sensitivity.

Bronselaer and colleagues [13], describe reduced penile sensitivity and sexual satisfaction subsequent to circumcision have been described by in a large cohort of 1,369 men of whom 1,059 were uncircumcised and 310 circumcised who reported less sexual pleasure than uncircumcised men.

A preliminary review of the literature results in dozens of studies referring to the adverse outcomes associated with circumcision and a summary is included in Table A.

Table A – Reported Adverse Circumcision Outcomes

There is a major gap in our understanding of the consequences of adult circumcision on psycho-emotional impacts on patients. Carmack [14 ] identified that published studies on circumcision fail to report on this aspect or the aesthetic trauma of circumcision. However, there are clear descriptions [17] provided in the literature confirming patient anxiety following unsatisfactory adult male circumcision.

The area of medicolegal cases arising from circumcision is poorly documented in the scientific literature [16]. However, a google [18] search returns volumes of articles regarding the matter.

The impact of circumcision on a man’s partner is an emerging and important area of investigation. Bensley and Boyle [19] provided the following abstract which highlights the need for a more rigorous academic investigation into this critical aspect of sexual fulfilment:

Other treatments include topical steroids, manual stretching and foreskin tissue expansion.

Gillatt & Chung [20] describe manual stretching of the foreskin with topical corticosteroid creams in order to minimise the symptoms of adult phimosis. They assert that this conservative initial treatment preferred by many clinicians and patients as an alternative to the higher side effects of adult male circumcision, has a poor efficacy. This treatment was first described in the literature in the 1990s [6] and further described elsewhere [21-22]. Gillatt and Chung [17] report  that the  treatment is usually provided over a period of 4 to 8 weeks. Once the cream is applied to the foreskin, a progressive stretching of the prepuce over the glans can be undertaken with fingers or a skin retractor, in order to facilitate foreskin tissue expansion  over time.

In their clinical experience this treatment has poor and variable efficacy often leading to circumcision with the significant problem of adverse events and outcomes as discussed above… In 2016, Gillatt and team began offerring different form of conservative treatment, the Novoglan product. This product has received generated an excellent safety profile and very high patient satisfaction rates. This is now considered a suitable  alternative to circumcision or specially formulated skin conditioning creams in cases of adult phimosis. the team have initiated an independents clinical trial into the safety, efficacy and tolerability pf the Novoglan product.

The Novoglan Foreskin Tissue Expander:

The Novoglan foreskin tissue expander product is manufactured and distributed by Platigo Solutions Pty Ltd in Sydney, Australia [23] . Novoglan is indicated for use by patients 18 years and over for the treatment of phimosis or preferential loosening of the foreskin. The Novoglan devices uses a balloon system to apply pressure under the foreskin and applies distributed pressure. Persistent treatment results in foreskin cell proliferation as an adaptive response leading to increased foreskin tissue and a looser foreskin permitting safe retraction for most patents.

A new generation liquid molded medical grade silicone foreskin stretching balloon has been developed for the specific purpose of stretching the foreskin [ 24]. Novoglan is designed to provide relief for tight foreskin in adults within 6 to 8 weeks. A significant number of patients have described normal retraction occurring after 14 days of continuous treatment twice per day [25].

Methodology:

A questionnaire was randomly sent to 9700 registered customers (emails) who had purchased the Novoglan foreskin tissue expander device . The recipients were de-identified. A total of 879 responses were received via the confidential online survey tool, with 68 responses being rejected for material incompleteness and 811 were included in the analysis. Of the 8821 that did not respond, they received a followup email survey with one question. 119 responses were received from the second attempt.

The questions have been grouped into tables and graphs and are described in the results section below.

Results:

Table 1 – Use of instructions, device version, usability, expectations, experience, reuse.

Graph 1

Table 2 – Tolerability, Safety & Mental Well-being

Graph 2

Table 3 – Novoglan User Satisfaction / Dissatisfaction

Graph 3

Table 4 – Reason for not responding to initial survey request

Table 5 – Comparison of Patient Experience with Novoglan Products and Service verses all their other online product and service experiences.

Graph 4

Discussion

Limitations of both email based questionnaires and the survey instruments as we have used in this study have been described in the literature [26]. Furthermore it is noted that dichotomous and scaled responses options as used in this study, have their limitations. That being said, they remain an important and well established mechanism to collect data for evaluation [26].

It is well documented that survey response rates are often very poor, and there can be affirmation bias or other biases that stimulate respondents to participate [26]. In this study, we have used neutral language in the questions to reduce any unintended biases. We also followed up non respondents with a single question requesting a single reason for their lack of participation. From Table 4 we note that of the initial 8821 non respondents, 119 responded to the follow up single question survey. 62% of this group stated they either didn’t generally respond to surveys or were not interested. Only 11% provided negative reasons related to the Novoglan product or service, in that the product didn’t work, they were not satisfied with the product, or they were not satisfied with service. 9% were satisfied with the product. We infer from this data that the bulk of the non respondents in total do not generally participate or are not interested in the survey and that they are not driven by either satisfaction or dissatisfaction with the product or service. We suggest this reduces the risk of significant bias for or against the product or service by the initial respondents.

From Table 1 it can be summarised that just over half the respondents had used the Novoglan Kit with the squeeze bulb and stop cock system. 10% found the product difficult to use, however, it is unclear if that was to do with the older kit that uses the air plunger. The Squeeze bulb system was introduced to enhance usability [27]. Around 80% of respondents indicated that the Novoglan device met their treatment expectations, had a positive response to the Novoglan device, and would reuse the device again if the phimosis returned. Compliance with instructions was over 99%. This data can be extrapolated to allow an interpretation that the Novoglan device in general, meets patients expectations, is easy to use as per the instructions and most users would use the device again should the phimosis return.

From Table 2 we note that no adverse events or side effects were reported. This is a very remarkable result given it is common for treatments to have some side effects or adverse events reported, even if not caused by the treatment. We undertook a literature review to identify any reported or known side effects or adverse events associated with the use of the Novoglan foreskin tissue expander. No reports were located. This result alone highlights the key safety profile that the Novoglan product has developed over the 15 years on the market. Furthermore over 96% of respondents reported that they tolerated the treatment whilst 97% reported that phimosis had a negative impact on their mental well being. The fact that over 76% of respondents reported that Novoglan treatment enhanced their mental well-being provides strong evidence that Novoglan has a positive impact on the overwhelming majority of patients treated with the Novoglan device.

From Table 3 we note that over 88% of all respondents were either satisfied or very satisfied with Novoglan treatment, outcomes, ease of use, and experience of using the Novoglan device. Indifference or dissatisfaction with the Novoglan device is less than 15% across the range of questions. This data can be interpreted as almost 9 out of 10 Novoglan users were satisfied with their Novoglan experience. The data from Table 5 also supports the positive patient experience with Novoglan. In fact, nearly 90% of users rated their experience with the Novoglan product or service as “satisfied”, “very satisfied”, or “extremely positive”, when compared to all their other online purchases of services or products. This data is even more compelling when it is received with the understanding that customers that have had a negative experience are significantly more likely to speak up and provide a poor review.

Conclusions

Real world data demonstrates that the Novoglan foreskin tissue expander device is a safe and well tolerated non surgical treatment for uncomplicated phimosis. User experience is significantly positive with respect to the treatment of phimosis and the overall user experience with the device and the related service.

With extremely high levels of patient satisfaction we conclude that the Novoglan device meets the efficacy expectations of patients and has a very significant role to play as a serious option in the non surgical conservative treatment of uncomplicated phimosis.

References

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25. Case Studies – On File with Manufacturer of Novoglan Product

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27. On File with Manufacturer of Novoglan Product