Adult circumcision typically requires adequate pain control to ensure patient comfort and surgical precision. Local anesthesia, often via a dorsal penile nerve block or ring block, provides effective anesthesia of the surgical site with minimal risks and allows rapid recovery. General anesthesia may be used in select cases where patient anxiety, cooperation, or complex surgical needs dictate. Topical anesthesia alone is insufficient for deep tissue pain control during the procedure. Spinal anesthesia is unnecessary and overly invasive for this peripheral procedure. Therefore, local or general anesthesia techniques are commonly employed to optimize surgical conditions and patient safety.

Reference: Smith’s General Urology, 18th Edition.