Reconstruction of the penis after severe injury

Abstract

Since 1986, five cases of one-stage reconstruction of the injured penis using microsurgical techniques have been successfully carried out. A piece of ilium based upon the deep circumflex iliac vessels is used to form the penis prop and a skin flap of the forearm is transferred to form the urethra and foreskin to encircle the prop. Then the vessels and nerves of the skin flap of the forearm are anastomosed with the vessels and nerves of the thigh. Postoperative follow-up showed the constructed penis to be satisfactory in contour, allow free flow of urine, provide cutaneous sensory recovery and satisfactory sexual function in four married patients. Radiography showed the bony structure of the penis prop to be normal. This method has advantages over the one-stage procedure in terms of contour, urinary flow, satisfactory sexual function and long-term benefits. Most of all it has solved the problem of poor blood supply into the reconstructed penis prop.