A comparison of the morbidity associated with radical retropubic prostatectomy with and without pubectomy

Radical retropubic prostatectomy with bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy for prostatic carcinoma was done with pubectomy in 8 patients and without pubectomy in 8 other patients. A comparison of the postoperative courses reveals an excess morbidity in patients who had pubectomy, with severe protracted pelvic girdle pain in 75 per cent, lower extremity thrombophlebitis in 37 per cent (one of which resulted in a non-fatal pulmonary embolus) and varying degrees of urinary incontinence persisting for 6 months or more in 75 per cent. In contrast, in patients who did not have a pubectomy mild transient pelvic girdle pain was noted in only 25 per cent of the cases, late lower extremity thrombophlebitis in 12 per cent and no late urinary incontinence. Pubectomy should not be used routinely with radical retropubic prostatectomy.