Penile injury

Medical emergency that afflicts the penis

Medical condition

Penile injury

A penile injury is a medical emergency that afflicts the penis. Common injuries include fracture, avulsion injury, strangulation, entrapment, and amputation.[1]

## Epidemiology[edit]

Penetrating and blunt traumas combined make up approximately 90% of all civilian penile injuries (45% each), with burns and other accidents making up the remaining 10%.[1]

## Types[edit]

### Fracture[edit]

Main article: Penile fracture

A still from a 3D medical animation showing tunica albuginea.

Penile fractures are the result of rupture of the tunica albuginea. They are fairly rare and can co-occur with partial or complete urethral rupture, though this is rare.[2][3][4] Urethral damage occurs in 10–38% of cases.[1] Fractures are treated with emergency surgery, and can be diagnosed with ultrasound, especially in pediatric cases.[2][3][4] Penile fractures are caused by trauma to the erect penis, typically by suddenly bending it laterally during penetrative intercourse with the receptive partner on top of the penetrating partner, or during masturbation. Characterized by a loud popping sound at the time of the injury, the result of the tunica albuginea rupturing. Other symptoms include severe pain, loss of erection, and swelling.[5] Symptoms of urethral injury include hematuria, blood at the meatus, and dysuria.[1] If left untreated, complications result in 28–53% of cases; these include permanent curvature of the penis, fistula, urethral diverticulum, priapism, and erectile dysfunction.[5]

### Degloving and avulsion[edit]

3D medical animation still showing skin grafting in case of Penile injury.

Degloving and avulsion injuries involve the removal of the penis skin, which is a serious medical emergency. Treatment of these injuries involves either closure of the torn skin, or a skin graft to replace the skin lost in the injury. Skin grafts are constructed to attempt to preserve erectile function and sensation.[1]

### Soft-tissue injuries[edit]

#### Strangulation[edit]

(A) A case of penile strangulation by a cable tie at the root of the penis. Both veins and arteries were compressed. (B) Penile ulcer at the root of the penis one week after the removal of the encircled object. The strangulation caused the permanent loss of sensation of the penis.

Strangulation injuries to the penis, also called incarceration injuries, caused by hair, rubber bands, or other objects are the second most common soft tissue injury in children.[6][7] Hair strangulation may be hard to diagnose due to the anatomy of the penis; the hair causing the strangulation may be hidden under the coronal sulcus if it is swollen.[8] In adults, strangulation injuries that require medical treatment can be caused by a variety of objects typically used for the purpose of sexual gratification, extending the time of an erection, or enuresis, including metal rings, which must be removed by specialized cutting instruments. The object can also be removed by decompressing the penis.[6][7] Because the vasculature of the penis is compressed, a variety of complications can result from strangulation injuries, depending on whether the veins, arteries, or both are compressed, including mild, reversible vascular obstruction; ischemic necrosis; gangrene and kidney damage; lymphedema; ulceration; urethrocutaneous fistula, loss of sensation; urethral injury; sepsis; and autoamputation.[7]

Penile strangulation injuries that require medical attention are rare: since their first description in 1755, there have been approximately 60–120 reported cases. Though usually acute, cases of chronic strangulation and acute cases lasting up to one month have been reported.[7][9]

Various objects have been involved in cases of strangulation:

* Wedding ring[10][11]
* Steel ring[12][13][14]
* Bottle[15]
* Chastity belt

#### Entrapment[edit]

The most common soft-tissue injury is an entrapment injury involving the penis caught in a zipper; these injuries are particularly common in young children who are uncircumcised and are always superficial. They are treated by removing the zipper with local anesthesia using a bone cutter, lubrication, or hacksaw, dismantling the zipper, or removing the affected tissue, and can be prevented in most situations by circumcision.[5][6] If not treated promptly, the affected tissue can swell and become infected.[6] In some cases, emergency circumcision is necessary.[8]

#### Other[edit]

Other soft-tissue injuries to the penis can be caused by burns, animal bites, and human bites.[5] Animal bites are common in children, and dogs are the most common animals involved. Though typically not severe, animal bites can cause amputation or infection.[1][6] Treatment for animal bites and human bites involves antibiotic treatment and closure of the wounds by secondary intention because they are contaminated.[1]

Penis burns can be very severe and often require specialized care in a burn unit to prevent contractures, severe scarring, or other complications including lymphedema, hypospadias, or necrosis.[8] This treatment can involve debridement, skin grafts, antibiotics, and the use of a suprapubic catheter. Because of its thin skin, the penis is susceptible to full-thickness, third-degree burns. Burns to the penis typically co-occur with other severe burns. Most thermal penis burns are first or second degree burns caused by flame; some are caused by grease or boiling water. Electrical burns are typically deeper than thermal burns and require more extensive tissue removal.[1]

### Amputation[edit]

Amputation of the penis can be either partial or complete. Often self-inflicted by people with psychiatric disorders, it may be occur with other trauma, such as in an assault or a mechanical accident. These injuries are treated by re-implantation if possible, with or without anastomosis of the vasculature to restore erectile function; skin necrosis and loss of sensation are common complications after treatment. Microsurgery on the vasculature decreases the risk of necrosis significantly.[5] Klingsor syndrome is a psychiatric disorder that causes self-harm, which can involve the penis. Paranoid schizophrenia, eating disorders, and psychotic breaks can also be associated with penile injury.[6] In some cases, transgender people who are not able to access genital surgery may self-amputate their penis.[1] Favorable prognostic factors for replantation of amputated penises include short ischemic time and a clean incision (as opposed to a crush injury or ragged incision).[16]

Replantation of an amputated penis can be done up to 24 hours after the injury, though fewer than 16 hours of cold ischemia or 6 hours of warm ischemia leads to the best outcomes. If replantation is not possible or desired, a penile stump can be closed and phalloplasty could be performed later.[1]

### Penetration[edit]

Penetrating injuries can be caused by accidents during sexual activities (typically, by foreign objects inserted into the urethra), by weapons (i.e. bullets) during wartime, or by stabbing. These injuries can have varying severity and be superficial, affect the corpora cavernosa, other soft tissue, and/or urethra.[4][5][6] In 50% of cases, the urethra is injured.[1] Some foreign objects may be removed like any other penetrating object in soft tissue; using forceps and gentle traction. However, if the foreign object was inserted into the urethra or has damaged the urethra transversely, urethography is used to avoid further injury to the urinary tract while removing the object.[8] Penetrating injuries make up approximately 45% of civilian penile injuries.[1]

## Classification[edit]

Organ Injury Scale[5] Grade  | Description of injury

|

I  | Superficial injury to the skin (laceration or contusion)
II  | Injury to the cavernosa/Buck's fascia, no tissue loss
III  | Avulsion or laceration through the urethral meatus, glans, or cavernosa, or urethral damage less than 2 cm in size
IV  | Partial penectomy (amputation) or a cavernosal/urethral injury more than 2 cm in size
V  | Complete penectomy (amputation or replacement)

## Causes[edit]

The causes of penile injury are mostly the same as other causes of trauma; however, penile injury is more likely to occur during sexual intercourse and masturbation than other traumas. Nocturnal erections and sleeping positions can be another cause of penile injury. Industrial and automobile accidents can also cause penile injury. Self-injury may also affect the penis.[5][6]

Abnormally curved, bruised penis. Eggplant sign.

Penile injury by self-mutilation involves injury to the glans penis by a needle puncture (left) or to the root of the penis by hanging a heavy-duty combination vise that clamped the penis (right). The type of injury from these self-harming behaviors varies from skin laceration to total amputation of the penis.

## Diagnosis[edit]

Most penile trauma can be diagnosed by history and physical examination, hearing 'snapping' or 'popping' sound, immediate penile pain, swollen, bruised (often known as eggplant deformity), some may notice blood over the urethral meatus.[17] But in some cases, ultrasonography can indicate the extent of the injury and help a clinician decide if the injured person needs surgical treatment.[18] It is important to rule out urethral injury in those with penile injury, as it is a urological emergency that may result in significant morbidity if left untreated.[19]

## Treatment[edit]

The type of injury dictates the treatment; however, surgery is a common treatment. Most traumatic penile injury warrant an emergency repairing surgery to prevent complications and maintain functionality of the penis sexually and urologically.

Catheterization is usually a part of treatment for penis injuries; when the urethra is intact, urethral catheterization may be used, but if it has been injured, suprapubic catheterization is used. Some injuries, including animal bites, are also treated with antibiotics, irrigation, and rabies prophylaxis.[6]

## Complications[edit]

Common complications from penile injury are erectile dysfunction, abnormal penile curvature, penile abscess, formation of fibrotic plaques, painful erection, urethral stricture, uretherocutaneous or corporourethral fistula.[20]

## References[edit]

1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Chang, Andrew J.; Brandes, Steven B. (2013-08-01). "Advances in diagnosis and management of genital injuries". The Urologic Clinics of North America. 40 (3): 427–438. doi:10.1016/j.ucl.2013.04.013. ISSN 1558-318X. PMID 23905941.
2. ^ a b Garofalo, Marco; Bianchi, Lorenzo; Gentile, Giorgio; Borghesi, Marco; Vagnoni, Valerio; Dababneh, Hussam; Schiavina, Riccardo; Franceschelli, Alessandro; Romagnoli, Daniele (2015-09-01). "Sex-related penile fracture with complete urethral rupture: A case report and review of the literature". Archivio Italiano di Urologia e Andrologia. 87 (3): 260–261. doi:10.4081/aiua.2015.3.260. hdl:11585/522790. ISSN 1124-3562. PMID 26428656.
3. ^ a b Lam, Samuel H. F. (2015-02-01). "Use of point-of-care ultrasound to evaluate for penile fracture in a child". Pediatric Emergency Care. 31 (2): 157–158. doi:10.1097/PEC.0000000000000358. ISSN 1535-1815. PMID 25651388. S2CID 28699398.
4. ^ a b c Lehnert, Bruce E.; Sadro, Claudia; Monroe, Eric; Moshiri, Mariam (2014-02-01). "Lower male genitourinary trauma: a pictorial review". Emergency Radiology. 21 (1): 67–74. doi:10.1007/s10140-013-1159-z. ISSN 1438-1435. PMID 24052083. S2CID 22263650.
5. ^ a b c d e f g h Krishna Reddy, S. V.; Shaik, Ahammad Basha; Sreenivas, K. (2014-09-01). "Penile injuries: A 10-year experience". Canadian Urological Association Journal. 8 (9–10): E626–631. doi:10.5489/cuaj.1821. ISSN 1911-6470. PMC 4164551. PMID 25295134.
6. ^ a b c d e f g h i Kim, Jae Heon; Park, Jae Young; Song, Yun Seob (2014-01-01). "Traumatic penile injury: from circumcision injury to penile amputation". BioMed Research International. 2014: 375285. doi:10.1155/2014/375285. ISSN 2314-6141. PMC 4164514. PMID 25250318.
7. ^ a b c d Ivanovski, Ognen; Stankov, Oliver; Kuzmanoski, Marjan; Saidi, Skender; Banev, Saso; Filipovski, Vanja; Lekovski, Ljupco; Popov, Zivko (2007-11-01). "Penile strangulation: two case reports and review of the literature". The Journal of Sexual Medicine. 4 (6): 1775–1780. doi:10.1111/j.1743-6109.2007.00601.x. ISSN 1743-6095. PMID 17888068.
8. ^ a b c d Dubin, Jeffrey; Davis, Jonathan E. (2011). "Penile Emergencies". Emergency Medicine Clinics of North America. 29 (3): 485–499. doi:10.1016/j.emc.2011.04.006. PMID 21782070.
9. ^ Li, Chao; Xu, Yue-Min; Chen, Rong; Deng, Chen-Liang (2013-07-01). "An effective treatment for penile strangulation". Molecular Medicine Reports. 8 (1): 201–204. doi:10.3892/mmr.2013.1456. ISSN 1791-3004. PMID 23652299.
10. ^ Osborne, Hannah (2016-11-16). "Doctors report rare case of penile strangulation after man puts wedding ring on penis". International Business Times UK. Retrieved 2017-01-28.
11. ^ "Man with penis stuck in ring suffered three days of pain". Nation. TheStar.com.my. Retrieved 2017-01-28.
12. ^ Haines, Lester (10 February 2016). "Firemen free chap's todger from four-ring chokehold". The Register. Retrieved 2017-01-28.
13. ^ "Inhaled Condoms And Vacuum Cleaner Hose Mishaps: The Wackiest Sex Injuries In Medical Literature". Retrieved 2017-01-28.
14. ^ Nuzzo, Regina. "Good Vibrations: U.S. Consumer Web Site Aims to Enhance Sex Toy Safety". Scientific American. Retrieved 2017-01-28.
15. ^ Mirror.co.uk (2016-10-16). "Man tries pleasuring himself with a bottle - things go horrifically wrong". mirror. Retrieved 2017-01-28.
16. ^ Riyach, Omar; El Majdoub, Aziz; Tazi, Mohammed Fadl; El Ammari, Jalal Eddine; El Fassi, Mohammed Jamal; Khallouk, Abdelhak; Farih, Moulay Hassan (2014-01-01). "Successful replantation of an amputated penis: a case report and review of the literature". Journal of Medical Case Reports. 8: 125. doi:10.1186/1752-1947-8-125. ISSN 1752-1947. PMC 4000145. PMID 24716477.
17. ^ Metzler, Ian S.; Reed-Maldonado, Amanda B.; Lue, Tom F. (2017-09-16). "Suspected penile fracture: to operate or not to operate?". Translational Andrology and Urology. 6 (5): 981–986. doi:10.21037/tau.2017.07.25. ISSN 2223-4691. PMC 5673800. PMID 29184800.
18. ^ Nicola, Refky; Carson, Nancy; Dogra, Vikram S. (2014-06-01). "Imaging of traumatic injuries to the scrotum and penis". AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology. 202 (6): W512–520. doi:10.2214/AJR.13.11676. ISSN 1546-3141. PMID 24848844.
19. ^ Nelson, Quentin; Leslie, Stephen W.; Baker, Jeff (2020), "Urethral Injury", StatPearls, StatPearls Publishing, PMID 32119462, retrieved 2020-05-05
20. ^ "Penile Fracture and Trauma: Practice Essentials, Background, Relevant Anatomy". 2019-11-09.