Plication corporoplasty versus Nesbit operation for the correction of congenital penile curvature. A long-term follow-up

Abstract

Aim of the study is to evaluate the long-term results of tunica albuginea plication in patients with congenital curvature of the penis and to compare them with those obtained with the Nesbit technique. Overall, 62 patients underwent surgical correction of congenital curvature of the penis from 2003 to 2008 at our institution. Of these, only 31 consented to be reevaluated. Nineteen patients had plication corporoplasty by means of one or more double crossed introflecting stitches (group A) while 12 patients had a traditional Nesbit technique with excision of small parts of tunica albuginea (group B). All patients were reevaluated with physical examination, a specific questionnaire and self-photography on erection, after a mean follow-up of 38 months in group A and 40 months in group B. Student's t test was employed for statistical analyses. A total of 3 recurrences of curvature were observed in group A, 1-3 months after surgery, which required surgical correction. In all three patients, reabsorbable sutures had been employed for albuginea plication. No recurrences were observed in group B (P = 0.15). A minimal persistent deviation was present in 6 patients in group A (31%) and in 6 patients in group B (50%) (P = 0.29). A minimal hyposensitivity of glans and prepuce was reported in 7 patients in group A (38%) and in 9 patients in group B (75%) (P = 0.03). Plication corporoplasty yields good and stable results when compared to the Nesbit technique provided that unabsorbable sutures are used and superficial scalpel incision of the albuginea is performed.