A new approach to the treatment of penile curvature

Techniques for penile straightening generate the serious dilemma of which is most appropriate. We created and describe our penile disassembly technique to avoid penile shortening in curvature repair.

From November 1995 to March 1997 we performed our penile disassembly technique in 87 patients 12 months to 47 years old (mean age 4.5 years). Indications for surgery were isolated penile curvature and chordee with or without hypospadias, curvature of the distal third of the corpora cavernosa and a small penis with curvature. Our method consists of separation of the penis into its entities, a glans cap with its neurovascular bundle dorsally, a nondivided or divided urethra, or urethral plate ventrally and corpora cavernosa that may be partially separated in the septal region. This maneuver achieves excellent correction of penile curvature. In addition, during this procedure a space is created between the glans cap and the tips of the corpora cavernosa into which various tissues may be inserted to avoid penile shortening due to corporoplasty or even to lengthen the penis.

Mean followup was 16 months (range 6 months to 2 years). There were no injuries to the neurovascular bundle or urethra. Complications developed only in relation to onlay or tubularized urethroplasty in 4 patients.

Our penile disassembly technique seems to be the most effective procedure in select cases of severe curvature of the distal penile shaft, marked glans tilt and a small penis with curvature. In addition, the procedure provides the possibility of penile lengthening.