Impotence associated with blunt pelvic and perineal trauma: penile revascularization as a treatment option

Erectile dysfunction (impotence) is a well-known complication of blunt pelvic and perineal trauma. The mechanism of injury is usually related to the trauma itself, via shearing of the penile blood vessels in the pelvis, or via direct trauma to the blood vessels in the perineum. The diagnostic evaluation of these patients should include evaluation of the nervous supply of the penis, the penile arterial tree and the veno-occlusive mechanism. Penile revascularization is a reasonable treatment option for this group in that many injured patients are young and show arterial injury, with minimal or no veno-occlusive dysfunction. Proper patient selection and precise operative technique should allow for restoration of erectile dysfunction in these patients.