Minimizing the losses in penile lengthening: "V-Y half-skin half-fat advancement flap" and "T-closure" combined with severing the suspensory ligament.
BACKGROUND
The technique most commonly used for penile lengthening is the release of the suspensory ligament in combination with an inverted V-Y skin plasty. This technique has drawbacks such as the possibility of reattachment of the penis to the pubis, a hump that forms at the base of the penis, in addition to alteration in the angle of erection.


OBJECTIVE
In this work, we describe a new technique that overrides these drawbacks and minimize the loss of gained length.


METHODS
The suspensory ligament was released through a penopubic incision. The caudal flap of the resected ligaments was reflected caudally and sutured to the Buck's fascia. The V flap was incised. The caudal half of the V was deskinned, leaving a cranial skin-covered V flap, and a caudal, rectangular fat flap. The fat flap was pulled into the gap between the base of the penis and the pubis and secured in position by suturing its deep surface and lower edge to the pubis. This maneuver filled up the gap. The V incision was closed as a Y. The penopubic incision was closed as a T shape, to avoid pulling the penis back at skin closure. A stay suture stretched from the glans to the thigh, maintaining the penis in the stretched position. A urinary catheter was inserted.


RESULTS
Six months after surgery, there was no loss in the length gained. The angle of erection (as reported by the patient) was similar to that prior to the procedure. The skin incisions left no hump and a faint scar that was not troublesome to the patient.


CONCLUSIONS
"V-Y half-skin half-fat advancement flap" and "T-closure" may improve the results of suspensory ligament release for penile lengthening. The reported techniques minimize the losses compromising length gain, whether in-surgery or following it.
Shaeer
Osama
O
Department of Andrology, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Egypt. dr-osama@link.net
Shaeer
Kamal
K
el-Sebaie
Ashraf
A
D000328:Adult; D006801:Humans; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D010413:Penis / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000601:surgery*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome