Unusual Complication of Urethral Sounding with a Knitting Needle

Abstract

Urethral sounding is defined as the insertion of an object or liquid into the urethra. The most common reason reported in the medical literature for deliberate urethral insertion is erotic gratification [1]. The aim of this report is to describe a rare complication of this practice. Herein we present a case of a male in his 60’s who presented to our emergency department with a 20 cm (8 inches) knitting needle stuck in his urethra. The whole needle was inserted. One ending was palpable through the body of the penis, the other penetrating left the medial gluteal adipose tissue.