Congenital dorsal penile curvature: a potential problem of the long phallus

We report the results of surgical correction of severe congenital dorsal penile curvature associated with a long slender phallus.

In the last 7 years we treated 16 boys with a mean age of 2 years 10 months who had severe dorsal penile curvature. The series included 5 patients with megameatus variant hypospadias and a full foreskin, 3 who presented with hypospadias and 8 who were referred when dorsal penile curvature was noticed by the family or primary physician. Mean penile length was 6.5 cm. without stretching. In each case length was greater than 2 standard deviations above the mean for patient age. Penile circumference decreased from a mean of 4.2 cm. at the base of the shaft to 4.1 cm. at the mid shaft and 3.7 cm. at the corona. Penile circumference was generally normal for patient age until corrected for length, when it was revealed to be small. Surgical correction of severe curvature was performed in 14 patients, while 2 who presented as newborns had remarkable spontaneous improvement in the first year of life. In each case curvature was due to corporeal disproportion.

All patients have erections postoperatively. There has been no residual or recurrent curvature and cosmetic results are good.

Congenital dorsal penile curvature is a potential problem of the long phallus. In severe cases surgical repair improves the appearance of the penis but it must also address the problem of corporeal disproportion.