Surgical management of acquired buried penis and scrotal lymphedema: A retrospective review

Abstract

Acquired buried penis is a condition that can have detrimental physical and psychological consequences for patients. Factors such as elevated BMI, chronic scrotal lymphedema, hidradenitis suppurativa, and chronic inflammation can lead to the condition. Surgical intervention is the treatment of choice for advanced disease. Following IRB approval, a retrospective chart review was performed for patients with a diagnosis of acquired buried penis who required surgical intervention. Details of patient history, surgical management including intraoperative and post-operative photography, and complications were reviewed. Seven patient cases were reviewed. The average age at time of surgery was 44 with a mean weight of 344 pounds and an average BMI of 48. Severe scrotal lymphedema and hidradenitis were common concurrent comorbidities. Concurrent scrotoplasty and infraumbilical panniculectomy were standard parts of the operations. Native glans skin was salvageable in all but one case. Penile shaft skin was reconstructed with skin grafts or adjacent tissue transfer. 88% of the cases had some element of wound dehiscence post-operatively. Surgical management of an acquired buried penis can be challenging. The patient demographic with the disease is frequently complicated by morbid obesity, concurrent lymphedema, or hidradenitis. Post-operative complications are expected. The surgical techniques presented can aid in simplifying the management of this challenging surgical population.