Extracorporeal shockwave therapy for Peyronie's disease: an alternative treatment?
OBJECTIVE
To determine retrospectively the safety and efficacy of extracorporeal shock wave therapy (ESWT) in patients with Peyronie's disease.


METHODS
Fifty-three patients with stable Peyronie's disease underwent ESWT (group 1). Fifteen patients matched with the baseline characteristic of the patients in group 1, who received no treatment, were used as the control (group 2). The patients' erectile function (International Index of Erectile Function [IIEF-5] score), pain severity (visual analog scale), plaque size and degree of penile angulation were assessed before and after the treatment in group 1 and during the follow-up in group 2.


RESULTS
The mean follow-up time was 32 months (range: 6-64 months) in group 1 and 35 months (range: 9-48 months) in group 2. All the patients were available for the follow-up. Considering erectile function and plaque size, no significant changes (P > 0.05) were observed in group 1 before or after the ESWT. A total of 39 patients (74%) reported a significant effect in pain relief in group 1 after ESWT. However, regarding improvement in pain, IIEF-5 score and plaque size, no significant differences were observed between the two groups. In 21 patients (40%) of group 1, the deviation angle was decreased more than 10 degrees with a mean reduction in all patients of 11 degrees (range: 6-20 degrees). No serious complications were noted considering ESWT procedure.


CONCLUSIONS
ESWT is a minimally invasive and safe alternative procedure for the treatment of Peyronie's disease. However, the effect of ESWT on penile pain, sexual function and plaque size remains questionable.
Poulakis
Vassilis
V
Department of Urology, Nordwest Krankenhaus, Steinbacher Hohl 2-26, Frankfurt am Main D-60488, Germany. poulakis@em.uni-frankfurt.de
Skriapas
Konstantinos
K
de Vries
Rachelle
R
Dillenburg
Wolfgang
W
Ferakis
Nikolaos
N
Witzsch
Ulrich
U
Melekos
Michael
M
Becht
Edward
E
D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008096:Lithotripsy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain; D010410:Penile Erection; D010411:Penile Induration / Q000628:therapy*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome