(406) The “Kiel Knots” Technique for the Treatment of Congenital and Acquired Penile Curvature

Abstract

Abstract Introduction Penile curvature is not only a cosmetic issue, but can also cause severe organic and psychological problems in the affected patients. It can negatively affect the quality of the person’s sexual life or even ruin a relationship. There are many surgical techniques for correction ranging from the least invasive as plication to more invasive as incision or excision and grafting. Objective We propose a surgical technique for the correction of both congenital and acquired penile curvatures. Our technique is based on modifying and combining the 16-dot and the Essed-Schroeder plication techniques by burying the knots in shallow troughs of the incised tunica albuginea. We entitle this modification as the “Kiel Knots”. In this video, we demonstrate step-by-step the Kiel Knots technique for the correction of a case of dorsal acquired curvature with good erectile function via the subcoronal approach. Methods A circumcising incision is made and the penis is degloved. Buck’s fascia is then incised exposing the tunica albuginea opposite the curvature. Eight dots 5mm apart are marked bilaterally on the tunica albuginea with the point of maximum curvature in the center and a 5 mm superficial incision along the marks is made without cutting into the corpus cavernosum. Instead of plicating with one suture for 4 dots, our modification entails utilizing a separate suture for every two dots with the knot being buried in the shallow trough we created by the scalpel. Results Our average operative time is an hour. An average loss of penile length of 0.5-1cm has been reported in 30% of our patients. All our patients preserved their erectile function. 90% of our patients remained without recurrence of curvature after 2 years of surgery. None of our patients reported problems with their suture knots. Conclusions The Kiel Knots technique achieves penile straightening with minimal loss of length and no erectile dysfunction. We believe that our technique combines the best of Lue’s 16 dot together with the Essed-Schroeder plication techniques while avoiding the downsides of both approaches. Disclosure Any of the authors act as a consultant, employee or shareholder of an industry for: Coloplast.