Rupture of the corpus cavernosum: surgical management

Rupture of the corpus cavernosum is an uncommon injury resulting from a direct blow to the erect penis. The injury is easy to recognize but treatment remains controversial. Our uniform operative plan, consisting of immediate exploration, identification, sharp débridement and primary repair of the tear in the tunica albuginea with absorbable sutures, resulted in preservation of normal penile erection in 7 patients. The hospital stay was brief (mean 3.8 days) and there were no complications. These results compare favorably to operative management as reported in the literature. Conservative management is associated with a 29 per cent complication rate and a mean hospital stay of 14 days. Therefore, early surgical repair of the rupture is advocated.