Penile incarceration with metal objects--a review of procedure choice based on penile trauma grade

To outline treatment guidelines according to level of penile trauma for penile incarceration by metal devices.

A post-1950 (hand-held powered cutting tool era) Medline search was performed. Cases were divided into four groups: string techniques and variants with and without aspiration of blood from the glans; aspiration techniques; cutting devices; and surgical techniques. Trauma grade (according to Bhat et al., 1991), site time (incarceration time), removal technique, removal time, anesthesia and recovery time were assessed.

The string technique and variants were used for grades 1-3. They had short removal (30-120 min), site (3-72 h) and recovery (1-24 h) times. Occasional glans decompressive with blood aspiration was required. Anesthesias included none (wrapping without glans aspiration), i.m. morphine and general (glans aspiration). Pure aspiration techniques used multiple needle punctures for grades 2-3. Aspiration cases had short site times (8-14 h), but required a spinal or general anesthesia. Cutting device cases (grades 1-5) required general anesthesia, had a short removal times (45-90 min), but long site (7 h-30 days) and recovery (2-66 days) times. Surgical degloving was utilized mainly for grade 5 cases, required spinal or general anesthesia, had short site (2-30 days), but long recovery (9-28 days).

The string, wrapping, aspiration techniques and cutting devices are suited for grades 1-3. Cutting requires a shield to avoid blade trauma and water-cooling to prevent thermal injury. Suspected underlying devitalized tissue (e.g. grade 4) is examined by Wood's lamp. Failure to identify gangrenous tissue will result in post interventional complications and a prolonged recovery time.