Priapism complicating sickle cell disease in Nigerian children

Forty-two out of a total of 45 children who presented with priapism in the University College Hospital Ibadan during an eight-year period had associated sickle cell disease (SCD). Conservative management was satisfactory in 35 out of 40 patients, but the outcome in all the five cases subjected to surgery was poor. Our findings suggest that associated SCD should be suspected in children presenting with priapism in areas of the world where SCD is endemic, and that conservative management is preferable to surgery.