Anatomy of the penis and its deformities in exstrophy and epispadias

The anatomy and erectile deformities of the penis in patients with exstrophy and epispadias are described. The information was derived from cavernosograms in 17 patients, an operation in 12, a pelvic computerized tomography scan in 1 and a cystectomy for carcinoma in 1. The inferior pubic ramus and, therefore, the corpora cavernosa are parallel to the floor when the patient is standing. Although the penis loses some of its length through the separation of pubic bones the corpora are shorter than in normal men. Ten corpora were rudimentary in 6 patients, perhaps because of vascular damage during a neonatal operation. The most common erectile deformity was tight dorsal chordee owing to intrinsic curvature of the corpora. The deformity is not caused by scar tissue or shortness of the reconstructed urethra. Patients with 1 rudimentary corpus have lateral deviation on erection.