Update on plication procedures for Peyronie's disease and other penile deformities

Penile prosthesis implantation is safe and effective in Peyronie's disease patients with and without erectile dysfunction

Penile prosthesis (PP) is the mainstay of treatment in Peyronie's disease (PD) with co-existent refractory erectile dysfunction (ED). This study aimed to assess the clinical outcomes of patients who underwent PP as the first-line surgical treatment in PD without ED. A total of 636 patients underwent PP for PD from 2012 to 2022, but only 168 patients who underwent PP as first-line surgical management for PD with or without ED were included in the study. The mean (SD) age of 168 patients was 56.3 years (12.4). The mean curvature of the "PD with ED" group and the "PD without ED" group were 38.2 (5.6) degrees and 42.2 (5.9) degrees. The median (IQR) follow-up was 56.0 months (34.5- 61.4). Most (86.9%) patients underwent 3-piece inflatable PP. An important finding is that 33 patients (19.6%) without ED had undergone PP. Mechanical failure requiring revision surgery was less common in the 'without ED' group than in the ED group (6.8% vs. 10.2%, p 0.04). Most PD patients without ED (87.9%, 29/33) and with ED (88.9%, 120/135) were "satisfied" after PP implantation at six months, as defined by a score of ≥4 on a 5-point Likert scale. If surgery is offered in PD, PP may be considered a safe and effective first-line surgical treatment regardless of the ED, given the acceptable complications and high satisfaction rates. However, this new concept warrants further research.

Hypospadias-associated penile curvature assessment and management: A global survey of current practice

INTRODUCTION

Our goal was to assess how surgical management of hypospadias-associated penile curvature (HAPC) varies across continents, focusing on factors that influence assessment and decision-making.

METHODS

Members of the European Society of Pediatric Urology (ESPU), Society of Pediatric Urology (SPU), and Hypospadias International Society (HIS) participated in an anonymous, 34-question online survey addressing pre-, intra-, and postoperative elements of HAPC evaluation and management. A selection of intraoperative photos were included in the survey to investigate the prevailing surgical approaches and identify management patterns.

RESULTS

Out of the 267 participants, 38.4% of them are located in Europe. Visual estimation was the predominant approach for evaluating HAPC, although being regarded as the least dependable compared to other techniques. Surgeons who performed more than 40 cases per year were more inclined to use goniometers and had varying degrees of HAPC that were considered acceptable without requiring any correction (P < .001). Out of 58% of respondents, a significant number reported regular utilization of artificial erection tests for all categories of hypospadias. Surgeons with fewer than 10 years of expertise commonly utilized erection test as part of their regular practice. A tourniquet was employed to maintain sufficient intra-corporeal pressure, by134 (50%). 116 participants (43%) inject Saline through the corpora cavernosa through the glans, while 150 (56%) administer saline from the lateral aspect. Moreover, the decision-making process differed based on the intraoperative picture scenarios of mild to moderate penile curvature during erection testing. Contrary to temperatures ranging from 25o to 35o, decision-making in cases with less severe degrees of HAPC was uncomplicated.

CONCLUSION

This survey reveals a wide range of surgical practice patterns in the assessment and management of HAPC. To our knowledge, this global survey of HAPC practice is the largest to date and could aid in developing new guidelines in pediatric urology. These findings may also provide a foundation for future prospective multinational studies.

The factors that cause penile shortening after plication surgery in patients with congenital penile curvature: [[es]]Los factores causantes del acortamiento de pene después de la cirugía con plicatura en pacientes con incurvación peneana congénita

OBJECTIVE

Congenital penile curvature is defined as the non-straightness of the penis without any urethral or penile pathology. We aimed to evaluate the factors that cause penile shortening after plication surgery in patients with congenital penile curvature.

METHODS

Between November 2010 and December 2020, we retrospectively reviewed patients with CPC undergoing tunica albuginea plication surgery. Before the procedure, patients' age, curvature location and degrees, as well as penile length were recorded. After the treatment, penile lengths were measured and recorded again. Early and late period results were recorded.

RESULTS

Plication surgery was performed in 130 patients. The median age was 24 years. Seventy-six patients had ventral curvature, 22 had dorsal curvature, 32 had lateral curvature. Average shortening of penile length in patients with curvature below 30° was: ventral 8-16 mm, dorsal 6-13 mm, lateral 5-12 mm. Patients with curvatures above 30° were: ventral 12-22 mm, dorsal 8-20 mm, lateral 2-12 mm.

CONCLUSION

Penile length shortening after plication is inevitable. Curvature degree and direction are factors affecting penile length after surgery. Therefore, patients and relatives should be informed in more detail about this complication.

Penile reconstruction: An up-to-date review of the literature

Objective

: To review the literature on adult penile reconstruction due to Peyronie’s disease, trauma and cosmesis, while emphasising specific surgical techniques and procedures such as phalloplasty, radial forearm free flap reconstruction, and penile transplant.

Methods

: A comprehensive review of the literature for the years 1992–2020 of the PubMed and SpringerLink databases was performed to identify articles on penile reconstruction. Search terms included ‘penile reconstruction’, ‘penile trauma’, ‘phalloplasty’, ‘penile transplant’, and ‘treatment of Peyronie’s’. Relevant articles were selected. All included studies were performed on adults and written in English.

Results

: We were able to identify 46 papers from PubMed and SpringerLink that included the research terms. From these, we included technical details of procedures and gleaned photographs of their works. Additionally, we included photographs from our institution’s own plication surgery cases.

Conclusions

: The field of adult penile reconstruction is performed for a plethora of reasons. From cosmetic to urgent and from routine to complex, it is most certainly a growing subset of Urology that plays a vital role for the men who need it. To our knowledge, this is the most up-to-date review of adult penile reconstruction.

Surgical Planning and Strategies for Peyronie's Disease

INTRODUCTION

Peyronie's disease results in penile curvature, shortening, instability, or pain upon erection-hindering sexual performance and leading to psychological distress. Despite extensive research, surgery is still the mainstay of treatment.

OBJECTIVE

To present an organized description of the most common surgical techniques used in the correction of Peyronie's disease and to propose a surgical algorithm to guide management.

METHODS

Using PubMed, we reviewed the published literature regarding surgical treatment of Peyronie's disease and its outcomes. We identified original articles, review articles, and editorials addressing the subject, with a focus on surgical techniques, their indications, and outcomes.

RESULTS

Peyronie's disease can be treated by corporoplasty or penile prosthesis implantation. Corporoplasty includes convex side-shortening procedures and concave side lengthening procedures. It is indicated when the erectile function is adequate. Shortening procedures include excisional, incisional, and plication-only techniques, and lengthening procedures include partial excision or incision followed by grafting. When refractory erectile dysfunction is present, placement of a penile prosthesis with or without further straightening maneuvers is recommended. We reviewed the indications, advantages, disadvantages, and outcomes of the available techniques and proposed a surgical algorithm to guide management.

CONCLUSION

Penile shortening procedures are usually indicated in curvatures <60°, in penises with adequate length. Partial excision/incision and grafting are indicated for curvatures >60°, hourglass or hinge deformities, and short penises, if the patient's erectile function is adequate. The presence of "borderline" erectile function and/or ventral curvature tilts the choice toward shortening procedures, and refractory erectile dysfunction is an indication for penile prosthesis placement. Peyronie's disease management remains challenging with many options available, making an accurate risk/benefit assessment of each case and meticulous patient counseling critically important. Almeida JL, Felício J, Martins FE. Surgical Planning and Strategies for Peyronie's Disease. Sex Med Rev 2021;9:478-487.

Peyronie's disease: Contemporary evaluation and management

Peyronie's disease is a common yet poorly understood condition characterized by penile pain, curvature, sexual dysfunction and psychological bother. Peyronie's disease represents a penile wound healing disorder, and is thought to arise from exuberant scarring in response to penile trauma in genetically predisposed men. In the absence of active treatment, the majority of men experience stable or worsening symptoms, with few reporting spontaneous resolution in penile curvature or other deformity. In contrast, penile pain improves or resolves in the majority of men. Treatment options vary based on symptom severity and stability. Several oral therapies are commonly prescribed, although to date there are no strong data to support any oral agents as monotherapy for Peyronie's disease. Other options including penile traction therapy and intralesional injections result in modest improvements for many patients, particularly when used early after symptom onset. Penile straightening through approaches, such as penile plication and plaque incision or partial excision and grafting, represent the most rapid and reliable approach to correct penile curvature once the symptoms have stabilized. Side-effects vary based on the type of surgery carried out, and include penile shortening, sensation changes and erectile dysfunction in the minority of men. In patients with drug refractory erectile dysfunction and Peyronie's disease, placement of a penile prosthesis will address both issues, and is associated with high levels of patient satisfaction. The current review provides a practical approach to the modern evaluation and management of patients presenting with Peyronie's disease.

Scrotal septum detachment during penile plication to compensate for loss of penile length compared with conventional surgical technique

Purpose

To evaluate the efficacy and safety of penile elongation featuring simple scrotal septum detachment from the penile base to compensate for the loss of penile length during penile plication in patients with Peyronie's disease compared with conventional penile plication.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 38 patients (24–75 years of age) with Peyronie's disease who underwent penile plication with or without our novel technique from January 2009 to May 2018. Penile elongation was achieved by release and detachment of the scrotal septum from the penile base to the level of the scrotal fat tissue. The objective outcome of change in stretched penile length (SPL) and the subjective outcome of patient perception of postoperative penile length were compared between groups. Any postoperative complications were recorded.

Results

Of the 38 patients, 16 underwent penile plication with scrotal septum detachment (elongation group) and 22 underwent penile plication only (conventional group). The postoperative mean SPL was increased in the elongation group and decreased in the conventional group (1.2±1.3 cm vs. −0.5±0.3 cm, p<0.001). Fourteen of 16 patients (87.5%) in the elongation group reported perceived penile lengthening after surgery, whereas 17/22 patients (77.3%) in the conventional group complained of penile shortening. We encountered no procedure-related complications such as hematoma, infection, or necrosis in either group.

Conclusions

Simple detachment of the scrotal septum from the penile base afforded both objective and subjective penile elongation without any severe complications compared with conventional penile plication.

Plication techniques in Peyronie's disease: new developments

To date, surgical correction remains the gold standard for patients with stable Peyronie's disease (PD) due to its high efficacy and low morbidity. Among the surgical procedures, penile plication (PP) can be offered to men who have adequate erectile function and penile length (>13 cm), with a curvature <60° and a predicted shortening of maximum 20% of the penis. The aim of this paper is to review the new developments that have emerged in the last years about the use of PP in patients with PD. A nonsystematic review of the literature was carried out searching in the PubMed and EMBASE databases from January 01, 2009 to April 01, 2019 including the words 'Peyronie', 'penile curvature', 'penile induration', 'plication', and 'plicature'. New developments in PP in the last 10 years include avoiding degloving by using a penoscrotal incision, a new mathematical model to predict loss of length after PP, a wider range of indications including patients with severe (≥60°) or complex curvatures, burying knots to avoid later discomfort, and thinning or incising the plaque to prevent excessive shortening. PP is a well-founded procedure with great results in appropriately selected patients. Given the lack of any prospective randomized trial, no clear recommendation can be made of one technique over another.

Simultaneous curvature correction at the time of the penile fracture repair: surgical and functional outcomes

Purpose: After a penile fracture (PF), an early surgical exploration and defect closure of the lesions are recommended to prevent long-term complications. However, postoperative unsatisfactory penile curvatures are frequent in the literature. In this study, we wished to present surgical outcomes of PF after surgical repair approach with an early intraoperative curvature correction and update our series with postoperative follow-up.

Patients and methods: An institutional retrospective review study of 36 patients undergoing surgical treatment for PF was performed. Mean age of patients was 53.2 years. All surgical explorations were performed within 12 hours after the traumatic event. The surgical repair with a contemporary penile plication was then made to straighten the tunica angulations in patients with curvature greater than 30°, using 2– 3 pairs of 2–0 absorbable suture of polydioxanone.

Results: The length of the tear ranged from 8 to 20 mm. 77.7% of the patients required a correction of the cavernous body deviation. No early complications occurred in any case. The median patient stays in the hospital was 3.4 days. At a mean follow-up of 20.6 months, all patients were able to insert the penis in the partner’s vagina, and were satisfied overall with sexual intercourse; three patients (10.7%) reported residual pain and discomfort for the knots of the sutures.

Conclusions: An early intraoperative curvature correction may be used for a variety of angulation deformities and severe degrees of deviations secondary to a repair after penile trauma, and may be helpful in preventing postoperative morbidity.

Clinical characteristics and surgical outcomes in men undergoing tunica albuginea plication for congenital penile curvature who present with worsening penile deformity

PURPOSE

Men with congenital penile curvature (CPC) can develop new onset worsening of their lifelong curvature. We sought to evaluate clinical characteristics and postoperative outcomes after tunica albuginea plication (TAP) in patients presenting with CPC who reported new onset worsened curvature (CPC-WC), and compare these with patients reporting stable lifelong curve ("CPC-only").

METHODS

A retrospective review of demographics, history/exam findings, and postoperative outcomes for patients with CPC who underwent TAP from 2012 to 2018 was performed. Patients were differentiated based on whether or not they reported new onset worsening of their penile curvature preoperatively (CPC-WC versus CPC only). Statistical analysis was performed to identify differences in clinical characteristics and postoperative outcomes after TAP.

RESULTS

60 patients were included [CPC only (n = 39) and CPC-WC (n = 21)]. Mean curvature was 62° (SD 23). CPC-WC patients were older [median 34 years (IQR 27:52) versus 24 years (IQR 20:34); p = 0.004], and more likely to report penile shortening and psychological bother (p < 0.05). On physical examination, CPC-WCs were more likely to have a discrete palpable tunical scar and diminished penile elasticity (p ≤ 0.0002). With median follow up of 12 months, satisfactory straightening with TAP was reported in 56/60 patients (93%) including 35/39 (90%) CPC only and 21/21 (100%) CPC-WC.

CONCLUSIONS

In men undergoing TAP for CPC, we found that 35% reported new onset worsening of their original curvature preoperatively. These patients were older and more likely to report penile shortening or exhibit palpable tunical scarring with decreased elasticity on examination compared to those with lifelong stable curvature. Regardless, TAP resulted in satisfactory penile straightening in the majority of patients.

Plication without degloving - Safe and effective approach for correcting lateral and dorsal penile curvature: Case series

Penile curvature deformities are often manageable with surgical reconstruction methods. We aimed to show the safety and efficacy of ventral and dorsal plication techniques without degloving in our two patients who have penile curvature. Two young adults, aged 20 and 23 years, presented to our clinic with lateral and dorsal penile curvatures. This problem has been sustaining since their teenage. Following the required preparations, two surgical techniques were used, namely Nesbit and Lue's "16-dot" technique. Patients completed a satisfaction survey at a mean of 6 months later the surgery. Although both patients reported a subjective decrease in penile length, their satisfaction rate was high. Penile plication without degloving is a safe and effective technique for correcting dorsal and lateral penile curvatures.

Comparison of Patient's Satisfaction and Long-term Results of 2 Penile Plication Techniques: Lessons Learned From 387 Patients With Penile Curvature

OBJECTIVE

To compare the patient's satisfaction and long-term results of 2 penile plication procedures in patients with penile curvature.

METHODS

This retrospective study included 387 patients with congenital penile curvature (n = 260) and Peyronie's disease (n = 127) who underwent surgical correction of penile curvature with penile plication procedures. Of the patients, 202 underwent plication of tunica albuginea with the Lue's 16-dot technique, while 185 underwent highly superficial excision of tunica albuginea with the modified Nesbit corporoplasty. Surgical outcomes and patient's satisfaction were compared between the 2 techniques in all patients.

RESULTS

The mean duration of surgery was significantly shorter in the 16-dot plication technique (48.1 ± 7.5 minutes), compared with the modified Nesbit corporoplasty (63 ± 16.9 minutes) (P = .001). Complete penile straightening was achieved in 87.6% of the patients who underwent 16-dot plication technique and in 89.7% of the patients who underwent modified Nesbit plication, revealing no difference (P = .514). The rates of penile sensory loss (P = .001) and de-novo erectile dysfunction (P = .016) were significantly higher in the modified Nesbit corporoplasty than in the 16-dot plication technique, but rate of suture related complications was significantly higher in the 16-dot plication technique than in the modified Nesbit corporoplasty (P = .001). The patients with congenital penile curvature had significantly less ratio of postoperative penile length loss and de-novo erectile dysfunction than Peyronie's disease patients.

CONCLUSION

Overall, both surgical techniques have very high success and satisfaction rates with very low complication rates. However, the types of complications are significantly different between the 2 surgical procedures. Therefore, patients with penile curvature should be informed about outcomes of penile plication procedures, and surgical method should be preferred based on patient's preference and surgeon's experience.

Contemporary surgical and non-surgical management of Peyronie's disease

Numerous treatments have been proposed for Peyronie's disease (PD). As the evidence base has expanded, the field of operative and non-operative options for patients has narrowed. Collagenase clostridium hystolyticum (CCH) injection now comprises the medical option, and surgical possibilities entail penile plication, plaque incision/excision and grafting, and prosthesis implantation. Still, questions abound regarding the optimal approach and indication for each of these treatments. We conducted a review of literature exploring the contemporary management of PD with a particular focus on work since the last American Urologic Association's (AUA) guidelines update for PD. Recent results and discussion indicate trends toward minimal invasiveness, toward a more holistic approach to the PD patient, and away from algorithmic management, galvanized, in part, by data challenging long-held beliefs.

A new technique, combined plication-incision (CPI), for correction of penile curvature

Introduction

Penile curvature (PC) can be surgically corrected by either corporoplasty or plication techniques. These techniques can be complicated by post-operative: penile shortening, recurrent PC, painful/palpable suture knots and erectile dysfunction.

Objective

To avoid the complications of corporoplasty and plication techniques using a new technique: combined plication-incision (CPI).

Materials and Methods

Two groups (1&2) were operated upon: group 1 using CPI and group 2 using the 16-dot technique. In CPI, dots were first marked as in 16 dot technique. In each group of 4 dots the superficial layer of tunica albuginea was transversely incised (3-6mm) at the first and last dots. Ethibond 2/0, passed through the interior edge of the first incision plicating the intermediate 2 dots and passed out of the interior edge of the last incision, was tightened and ligated. Vicryle 4/0, passed through the exterior edges of the incisions, was tightened and ligated to cover the ethibond knot.

Results

Twelve (57.1 %) participants in group 2 complained of a bothering palpable knot compared to none in group 1 with statistically significant difference (P=0.005). Postoperative shortening (5mm) of erect penis, encountered in 9 participants, was doubled in group 2 but with insignificant difference (P>0.05). Post-operative recurrence of PC, was encountered in only 1 (4.8%) participant in group 2, compared to none in group 1, with insignificant difference (P>0.05). Post-operative erectile rigidity was normally maintained in all participants.

Conclusion

The new technique was superior to the 16-dot technique for correction of PC.

Penile Plication With or Without Degloving of the Penis Results in Similar Outcomes

BACKGROUND

Penile plication techniques with or without degloving offer a minimally invasive option for the treatment of penile curvature.

AIM

To review the outcomes of penile plication surgery and patient satisfaction with and without degloving of the penis.

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 52 patients who underwent penile plication for the treatment of Peyronie disease or congenital penile curvature.

OUTCOMES

Surgical success rates, complications, and patient satisfaction determined with the Treatment Benefit Scale were compared between groups.

RESULTS

The overall surgical success rate was 92.3% at a mean follow-up of 18.84 ± 23.51 months. There were no intraoperative complications. In the degloving group, 42.6% of patients were greatly satisfied and 42.6% had better outcomes; in the without degloving group, 61.5% of patients were greatly satisfied and 30.8% had better outcomes. Comparison of outcomes was not statistically significant between groups.

CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS

The results of the present study indicate the two techniques can be used for penile plication.

CONCLUSION

With or without degloving, penile plication is safe and effective and provides high patient satisfaction. Kadirov R, Coskun B, Kaygisiz O, et al. Penile Plication With or Without Degloving of the Penis Results in Similar Outcomes. Sex Med 2017;5:e142-e147.

Plication procedures-excisional and incisional corporoplasty and imbrication for Peyronie's disease

Plication procedures for the correction of Peyronie’s disease (PD) curvature are management options for PD patients. There are basically three types of procedures: excisional corporoplasty, incisional corporoplasty, and plication-only. This review is a compilation of English literature, peer-reviewed, published articles addressing these types of operations for Peyronie’s curvature correction, not congenital curvature. According to the urology literature, this surgical type was initially used for correction of curvature associated with hypospadias repair or congenital penile curvature. The procedures also, for the most part, historically became an alternative for plaque excision and graft repair, because of the difficulty with such repairs and the often-resultant erectile dysfunction (ED). A brief section traces some of the origins of these various repairs, followed by a brief section on the selection criteria for these types of surgery for the patient with PD penile curvature. We also review the significant articles in which the three types were presented with modifications. Finally, several articles that compare the various surgical repairs are summarized in the order that they appear in the literature. These types of surgery have become a mainstay for the surgical correction of penile curvature due to PD.

The effects of four different suture materials on penile tissue of rats

Several types of suture materials are being used for the correction of penile curvature and this study was designed to compare histopathological changes on penile tissue among different suture materials. A total of 30 male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into five groups and right cavernosal body was sutured with 5/0 sutures (ETB: polyethylene terephthalate; PRL: polypropylene; VCR: polyglactine; and PDS: polydioxanone). An identical needle (3/8-13 mm cutting) was passed through the cavernosal bodies in the sham group (SHAM). After 3 weeks, all rats were killed and penile tissues were examined to assess the level (0-3) of inflammation, granuloma formation and fibrosis. There was a statistically significant difference among five groups regarding inflammation, granuloma formation and fibrosis levels (P<0.01 for all). The histological changes in the PRL group were not different from the SHAM group. Although the levels of granulation and fibrosis in the PDS group were also similar to the SHAM group, inflammation level was significantly higher. The inflammation, granulation and fibrosis levels were the highest in the ETB group. VCR caused similar levels of granulation and fibrosis to ETB. In conclusion, PRL suture is associated with the least histopathological change in the penile tissue. PDS can theoretically be a reasonable alternative to PRL as it causes similar levels of granulation and fibrosis.

Management of adults with prior failed hypospadias surgery

Hypospadias is one of the most prevalent anomalies of the male genitalia. Contemporary hypospadias repair is very successful, but patients that have the surgery fail often require multiple surgeries throughout their life. Complications from failed hypospadias repairs have a significant impact on patients both psychologically and physically. Failed hypospadias repair encompasses a spectrum of problems that include hypospadias recurrence with an ectopic meatus, urethral fistula, urethral stricture, and ventral penile curvature. Repairs of hypospadias complications can be challenging due to the poor quality of surrounding tissue from disruption of normal vasculature in the re-operative field associated with the underlying disorder. One of the most challenging issues is dealing with urethral strictures. There have been multiple methods described at repairs of these in both a single stage and multiple staged procedures. Particular attention has been directed towards applications of grafts due to worse outcomes with flaps. Buccal mucosa has emerged as the leading graft material in staged repairs. When counseling patients with failed hypospadias it is important to discuss the expected outcome as repairs directed towards a terminally positioned meatus with a straight phallus may require multiple surgeries due to post-operative complications as well as the necessity of proceeding in a staged approach.