Management of penile fracture

MR imaging of penile pathology and prostheses

Penile MRI is a vital yet underutilized diagnostic tool that provides detailed information crucial for managing various penile pathologies. Due to its infrequent use, many radiology trainees lack confidence in interpreting these exams. This article reviews the anatomy, key technical considerations, and interpretive pearls for penile trauma, Peyronie's disease, priapism, penile neoplasms, prosthesis evaluation, and a few miscellaneous conditions. Through illustrative case examples, this review aims to enhance the understanding and proficiency of radiologists in performing and interpreting penile MRI in these clinical scenarios.

Beyond the Breaking Point: A Unique Case Report of a Penile Fracture With a Distal Urethral Injury

A penile fracture is a rare urological emergency, often resulting from blunt trauma to the erect penis. This case report describes a 30-year-old male who presented with penile swelling during sexual intercourse, raising suspicion of a penile fracture. The patient underwent surgical exploration, revealing a rent in the tunica albuginea and an additional laceration in the corpus spongiosum with the Foley catheter exposed. The lacerations were closed using Vicryl sutures over a Foley catheter. The patient experienced an uneventful postoperative course, and follow-up assessments showed satisfactory healing of the urethra. This case underlines the need for clinicians to consider the possibility of urethral involvement in cases of penile fracture, as timely surgical intervention can prevent long-term sequelae such as erectile dysfunction and urethral strictures. By sharing this case, we hope to further emphasize the need for vigilance and swift action when faced with potential penile fractures in clinical practice.

Comparison of early period sexual function parameters between surgical repair and conservative treatment after penile fracture

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Comparison of early period sexual function parameters in patients who had surgical repair and conservative follow-up after penile fracture and the evaluation of surgical intervention time on these parameters were planned in this study.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Total of 26 patients who were treated for penile fracture were evaluated. 19 patients had surgical repair and 7 patients had conservative treatment. Sexual function and erectile dysfunction (ED) degree of the patients before penile fracture and in the 12th week after fracture were evaluated with 5-question International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF-5) questionnaire, Erection Hardness Score (EHS), Sexual Encounter Profile(SEP) 2 and SEP 3. Parameters showing sexual function before and after the fracture were compared.

RESULTS

In both groups, a significant change was detected in IIEF-5 score, EHS, SEP-2 and SEP-3 parameters of the patients measured after penile fracture compared to the values before the fracture (all parameters, p<0.05). No difference was detected in the parameters measured before and after the fracture among surgical repair and conservative treatment groups (all parameters p>0.05). Mean time passing until the surgery after fracture was measured as 9.6±6.85h in 19 patients who had surgery.

CONCLUSION

A difference wasn't detected in sexual parameters in conservative treatment and surgical repair groups in this study. As a significant decrease was observed in sexual function parameters even in conservative treatment cases without sudden detumescence and tunica albuginea rupturing, we think that quick surgical exploration would be useful in cases considered to have penile fracture.

Risk factors for penile fracture compared with a surgical control cohort in the United States: the role of substance abuse

Penile fracture (PF) is a surgical emergency. Given its rarity, we queried a national cohort over an 11-year period to study the temporal and demographic variations in presentation, evaluation, and management of patients with PF compared with a cohort of control patients. The National Inpatient Sample was queried between the years 2005 and 2016 for patients with a diagnosis of PF. Appendectomy patients were selected as a control cohort, given the non-discriminatory nature of this disease. Clinical and demographic data of the patients were compared with that of controls. Presenting symptoms, rates of surgical repair, and rates of associated surgical procedures were evaluated in the PF cohort. During the study period, 5802 patients were hospitalized for PF. The annual incidence of PF remained unchanged at 1.0-1.8 cases per 100 000 hospitalizations over the study period. Compared with the control cohort, PF patients were more likely to be younger (38.7 years vs 41.2 years, P ≤ 0.001), have lower rates of comorbidities except erectile dysfunction (1.4% vs 0.1%, P ≤ 0.001), and were more likely of Black race (25.4% vs 6.2%, P ≤ 0.001). Notably, PF patients had significantly higher rates of substance abuse (26.4% vs 18.1%, P ≤ 0.001), despite no difference in the diagnosed psychiatric disorders. PF rarely presented with hematuria (3.5%); however, urethral evaluation was performed in 23.1%, most commonly with cystoscopy (19.2%). PF occurs more commonly in a younger, healthier male population, and among minorities. Importantly, rates of substance abuse appear to be higher in the PF cohort compared with those of controls.