The Hydroflex penile prosthesis

Since its introduction in 1985, the Hydroflex penile prosthesis has become a popular choice of impotent patients. Simplicity of insertion, mechanical reliability, and the ability to give alternate firmness and flaccidity to the penis account for its widespread acceptance. Selection of patients is important, excluding those with impaired manual dexterity who would become frustrated in learning to operate the inflation-deflation mechanism of this device. Also, this prosthesis is somewhat bulky and cannot be crammed satisfactorily into the unusually small penis. When turgid, it does not expand beyond fixed limits and so would not fill the exceptionally large penis, resulting in a relatively unstable erection in such a patient. Appropriate sizing of the cylinders, especially the width, is important for a successful outcome.