Risk Factors for Development of Long-term Complications after Surgical Repair of Penile Fracture

You, Dalsan; Hong, Bumsik; Park, Jong Yeon; Ahn, Tai Young

Abstract

PURPOSE
The aim of this study was to review clinical features of penile fracture and to characterize risk factors for the development of long-term complications after its surgical correction.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We retrospectively reviewed the cases of 10 patients who underwent surgical therapy for penile fracture between June 1995 and September 2003. Patient age at presentation ranged from 17 to 54 years (mean 32 years). All patients underwent surgical therapy in an emergency setting. The time between the injury and surgery ranged from 7 to 240 hours (mean 44.5 hours). Radiologic work-up included penile ultrasonography for 9 patients and retrograde urethrography for patients suspected of having concomitant urethral injury. We investigated multiple clinical features to characterize risk factors relevant to the development of long-term complications. The mean follow-up was 36.5 month.
RESULTS
Penile ultrasonography revealed defects in the tunica albuginea in seven patients, including six in whom the defect was identical to the injury site. At surgery, the size of the injury was between 3 mm and 50 mm. Two patients with concomitant urethral injury showed larger defects than those with an intact urethra. Long-term complications such as penile curvature and erectile dysfunction were found in two men with large defects involving the urethra and three with long lapses from injury to surgical correction.
CONCLUSIONS
Long-term complications after surgical therapy for penile fracture are likely to occur in patients with a large defect in the tunica albuginea involving the urethra or with delayed surgical correction.