Congenital and acquired curvature of the penis treated surgically by plication of the tunica albuginea

Abstract

To evaluate the effectiveness of plication surgery for patients with congenital and acquired curvature of the penis. Forty-eight patients with congenital curvature of the penis and 57 with induratio penis plastica were treated by plication of the tunica albuginea. Their average age was 23 and 56 years, respectively. The operation was performed under local anaesthesia, using 2/0 Prolene and a specially designed suture. The average observation time in the two groups was 24 and 20 months, respectively. Nineteen per cent of patients in the first group and 8% in the second group reported normal intercourse pre-operatively. Post-operatively, the numbers increased to 81% and 82%, respectively, and all were able to perform intercourse. Although 18-19% experienced slight discomfort, mostly related to the cut ends of the suture, this minor problem was accepted by all. Five patients needed more than one operation. No impotence was recorded post-operatively and no patient complained of reduced sensibility of the skin. Satisfactory results were obtained with the plication technique in the first 105 patients. Since the follow-up study was completed more than 2 years ago, another 70 patients have been treated by the same procedure.