The role of surgery in the treatment of impotence has greatly increased during the last 5 years. The recognition and surgical correction of those mechanical derangements of the penis that prevent coitus have enabled many men to resume or commence intercourse. Men with irreversible impotence usually find it possible to resume coitus following the insertion of a Silastic penile prosthesis. The need to diagnose organic impotence has in turn stimulated the development of new diagnostic techniques and these have increased our knowledge of the pathophysiology of erectile function.
在过去五年中，手术在阳痿治疗中的作用大幅提升。对那些妨碍性交的阴茎机械性紊乱的识别及手术矫正，使许多男性能够恢复或开始性交。患有不可逆阳痿的男性通常会发现在植入硅橡胶阴茎假体后能够恢复性交。诊断器质性阳痿的需求反过来又刺激了新诊断技术的发展，而这些技术增加了我们对勃起功能病理生理学的认识。
