Use of the rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap in treating advanced carcinomas of the penis.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the methods used to obtain skin closure after radical surgery for carcinomas of the penis, with special reference to the rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Over a 20 year period, 21 patients underwent surgery for carcinomas of the penis. Seven had advanced tumours, requiring radical surgery for complete local tumour control. The resulting wounds were repaired with scrotal skin transfer in three patients and with a rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap in the other four.

RESULTS

These methods of repair were a 100% reliable, all wounds being healed within 10 days.

CONCLUSIONS

Scrotal skin transfer is a simple and effective method of achieving wound closure. Where removal of the scrotum is required along with curative or palliative surgery, and after ilio-inguinal lymphadenectomy, a rectus abdominis myocutaneous flap is useful for skin closure.