[Surgery of impotency (author's transl)].

Psychic disorders may sometimes explain the impossibility of erection. Organic causes of impotency must not go unrecognized though, because they are numerous: lesions of the cavernous bodies, arterial occlusions and deficiencies of innervation. The implantation of silicone prostheses in the cavernous bodies insures the erection and makes possible a normal sexual activity: the orgasm and the ejaculation may reappear even after they have disappeared for many years. This operation was realized in sixteen patients according to the technique of Small and Carrion. Postoperative hospitalization is usually of 24 hours. All patients resumed a normal sexual activity. Our earliest observation occurred three years ago. Up to now there were no cases of infection, or rejection. The implantation of silicone prostheses in the cavernous bodies constitutes an important step in the treatment of organic impotency.