[A biomechanical study of flexible penile implants]

The prostheses used are silicone elastomer flexible penile implants. They are not hard, but flexible and capable of being elongated without traction. These implants have the advantage of resisting axial pressure which facilitates intromission, even in the absence of erection. Their flexibility also allows the penis to hang when the patient is standing. For the penis to hang normally, it must be sufficiently long (hence the value of cavernopubic release) and the intracavernous cavity must be longer than the prosthesis. The prosthesis does not alter the cavernous artery, but markedly flattens the venous plexus (lakes and efferent veins).