Long-term outcome of surgical treatment of penile fracture complicated by urethral rupture.

INTRODUCTION

The combination of lesions of the penile urethra and the corpus cavernosum is rare and is likely to worsen the immediate and long-term prognosis.

AIM

To assess the late effects of penile fractures complicated by urethral rupture treated by immediate surgical intervention.

METHODS

Fourteen patients with concomitant urethral rupture were treated surgically at our center. Those patients were seen in the outpatient follow-up clinic and were re-evaluated.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Sexual Health Inventory for Men questionnaire, local examination, uroflowmetry and penile color Doppler ultrasound.

RESULTS

The most common cause of penile fracture is sexual intercourse (50%). The site of tunical tear was in the proximal shaft of the penis in 3 patients (21%) and in the mid of the shaft in 11 patients (79%). Urethral injury was localized at the same level as the corpus cavernosum tear in all cases; and it was partial in 11 cases and complete in 3. Long-term follow-up (mean=90 months) was available for 12 patients; among whom there was no complications in 4 (33%), painful erection in 1 (8%), erectile dysfunction in 2 (17%), and palpable fibrous nodule in 5 (47%). All patients had a normal urinary flow except one who developed relative urethral narrowing that required regular dilatation for 1 month.

CONCLUSIONS

The urethral injury complicating penile fracture is often partial and localized at the level of the corpora cavenosa tear. Standard treatment consists of immediate surgical repair of both urethral and corporal ruptures with no harmful long-term sequelae on urethral and erectile function in most of patients.