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Comparison of different approaches to the surgical treatment of penile fractures: quicker return to sexual function with longitudinal incisions

Abstract

The objective of this study was to compare the long-term clinical outcomes from longitudinal incisions and subcoronal circumferential degloving incisions in the surgical treatment of penile fractures. From July 2001 to July 2014, 23 patients were identified with penile fractures. Fourteen patients underwent longitudinal incisions after ultrasound localization; nine patients underwent subcoronal circumferential degloving incisions. Sexual function was evaluated preoperatively and postoperatively using an abridged International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) questionnaire. The mean (±s.d.) operative time was 19.1 (±3.9) min in the longitudinal incision group and was 45.1 (±6.5) min in the subcoronal circumferential degloving incision group (P<0.05). The mean (±s.d.) times required to recover sexual function were 35.6 (±6.0) days in the longitudinal incision group and 54.0 (±5.8) days in the circumferential incision group (P<0.05). Six months postoperatively, the erectile functions of all cases were comparable to the level preoperatively except three patients. One patient from each group reported symptoms associated with mild ED, but they experienced satisfying sexual orgasms after psychotherapy for 2 months. Another patient’s score on the IIEF-5 declined from 25 to 24 points in the circumferential incision group 10 months postoperatively, and this was associated with maintaining an erection after vaginal penetration. In conclusion, the longitudinal incision may allow quicker return to sexual function but not necessarily improved the long-term clinical outcomes. Furthermore, postoperative psychosocial nursing and psychotherapy should receive more attention.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the General Programs of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 81370860 and 81070605), Pudong Health Bureau of Shanghai (PW2013D-3), Key Disciplines Group Construction Project of Pudong Bureau of Shanghai (PWZxq2014-11) and the Biomedical Engineering Research Fund of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (No. YG2011MS14). We sincerely thank Dr Selcuk Yucel for his excellent technical assistance during this work.

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Correspondence to Z Wang or M J Lu.

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Xu, M., Zhou, Z., Yao, H. et al. Comparison of different approaches to the surgical treatment of penile fractures: quicker return to sexual function with longitudinal incisions. Int J Impot Res 28, 155–159 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1038/ijir.2016.13

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