[A modified penile elongation method and observation of its postoperative complications].
OBJECTIVE
To introduce a modified penile elongation method and observe its postoperative complications.


METHODS
From January 1993 to December 2007, 130 patients with congenital short and small penis were divided into 2 groups: the routine group and the modified group, with 65 patients in each group. In the routine group, the patients were 18-55 years old (39.6 on average), and the penile length during erection was (4.9 +/- 1.4) cm. In the modified group, the patients were 20-56 years old (35.4 on average), and the penile length during erection was (5.0 +/- 1.5) cm. There was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). On the basis of scrotal flap which was transferred to cover the prolonged cavernous body of penis, the "+" shaped incision at the root of the penis was made in the routine group, and the incision was shifted upward by 1.5 cm in the modified group. And V-Y incision was made for the penises with more than 4 cm prolonged length. In order to compare the conditions in the two groups, no physical therapy was applied in 30 days after the operation.


RESULTS
All the 130 patients' incisions obtained healing by the first intention, and all flaps survived successfully. Postoperative hydrophallus appeared differently between both groups. In the routine group, obvious hydrophallus appeared on the 3rd day after the operation and lasted for (15.11 +/- 2.71) days, with 3 cases (4.62%) suffering from refractory hydrophallus. In the modified group, hydrophallus appeared on the 3rd day after the operation and lasted for (6.65 +/- 0.29) days without any refractory hydrophallus. There was significant difference between the two groups in the duration of hydrophallus (P < 0.05). All patients were followed up for 6-8 months. After the operation, the shape and function of the penis were found good. The prolonged length was (4.9 +/- 1.4) cm in the routine group and (5.0 +/- 1.5) cm in the modified group. There was no significant difference between the two groups (P > 0.05). The satisfaction rate (according to the patients' self-rating) was 95% and 98% in the routine group and the modified group, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
The method using the scrotal flap transferred to cover the prolonged cavernous body of the penis is safe and of low complication rate. The modified method is more effective to abate postoperative hydrophallus.
Tao
Ling
L
Department of Plastic and Cosmetic Surgery, South-West Hospital of the Third Military Medical University, Chongqing 400038, PR China.
Li
Shirong
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010413:Penis / Q000002:abnormalities / Q000601:surgery*; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures; D012611:Scrotum / Q000002:abnormalities; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D013521:Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male / Q000379:methods*