Penile fracture: surgical repair and late effects on erectile function

Penile fracture is described as a traumatic rupture of the tunica albuginea because of blunt injury of an erect penis.

To assess the etiology, treatment maneuvers, and late effects of penile fractures treated by surgical repair.

Thirty-three patients diagnosed provisionally as having fractured penises. Thirty patients were managed by immediate surgical repair and three by delayed repair.

International Index of Erectile Function-5 for married cases and Single-question Self-report of Erectile Dysfunction questionnaires and recording complications after 2, 3, and 6 months.

The most common cause of fracture penis is self-inflicted acute bending (54.5%). The tear was visualized by ultrasound in 20/30 patients (66.7%) mostly on the right proximal third of the penis. All tears were unilateral with mean length 2.0 +/- 0.9 cm (range 0.5-4 cm). All patients who completed their follow-up after 6 months (N = 24) were able to achieve an adequate erection except two married cases who felt mild erectile dysfunction. Penile nodules were the most common postoperative complication (41.7%) after 6 months' follow-up. Patients treated with immediate or delayed repair had comparable complications.

Fracture penis is not uncommon as an emergency that must be repaired either immediately or delayed. Clinical diagnosis is more predictive than ultrasound in diagnosis and determining the site of the tear. Ultrasound may be of value in patients where there is clinical doubt.