Penile fracture in burkina faso: our experience on the management of 21 cases

Abstract

Background

Penile fracture is relatively a rare urological emergency and has been the topic of a few publications in the literature through clinical cases or case series. Despite this relative scarcity, it is increasingly reported as one of the andrological emergencies in Burkina Faso. The purpose of this study was to report our experience of the management of such andrological emergency in the two main university teaching hospitals of Burkina Faso.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study, including retrospectively patients managed for a penile fracture between January 2016 and September 2021, and having a minimum postoperative follow-up of 6 months. The literature review was performed by analyzing the content of the following documents: consultation logs, patient records, operative report protocol. The parameters studied were age, mechanism of occurrence, clinical data, delay of management, operative technique and functional and morphological results after surgery. Erectile function was assessed by the IIEF5 score and rigidity by the EHS scale.

Results

Among the 24 cases of penile fracture, 21 patients were included with a median age of 32.7 ± 5.74 years (23–43 years). The most common mechanism was a coital misstep or coitus interruptus (14 patients or 66.7%). Forced self-manipulation/masturbation was noted in 4 cases (19%), and direct trauma to the penis was noted in 3 cases (14.3%). Urethrorrhagia was reported by 5 patients. The mean delay of management was 65 h (6–432 h). The main sign found was the painful swelling of the penis with an “eggplant” appearance. The surgical approach was a circumferential balanopreputial incision in all our patients. Involvement of the spongy body and urethra associated with involvement of the cavernous body was noted in 4 patients, with a single case of spongy body and urethral involvement. The mean length of hospital stay was 3 days. Postoperatively, erectile dysfunction was noted in 6 patients. A palpable nodule at the penis was observed in 12 patients. No patient reported curvature of the penis.

Conclusion

Penile fracture is a clinical diagnosis requiring early exploration and surgical repair to ensure better functional and morphological outcomes.