Men's HealthWhat is Penile Fracture?

What is Penile Fracture?

Penile fracture is the tearing of the tunica albuginea, a membrane that surrounds the erectile tissue of the penis, which occurs as a result of a sudden bending during an erection, usually during sexual intercourse. The tunica albuginea is a rigid membrane structure that tightly envelops the erectile tissue filled with blood during erection. Tearing this membrane can lead to severe pain, bruising, and abnormal shaping of the penis. Penile fracture is a serious condition that requires urgent medical intervention and if not treated quickly, it can cause permanent damage or functional impairment.

The diagnosis is typically made through the patient’s medical history and physical examination. Treatment usually involves surgical intervention. Surgery aims to repair the torn membrane and control bleeding, as well as prevent long-term complications. After surgery, it is important to avoid sexual activity during the healing process and follow other instructions recommended by the doctor.

What are the Causes of Penile Fracture?

Common causes that can lead to penile fracture include:

Trauma During Sexual Intercourse: Accidents that occur especially while being on top of a partner can result in the penis slipping out of the vagina and hitting the pelvic bone or other hard surfaces.

Masturbation: Excessive force or improper techniques applied during masturbation can also lead to penile fracture.

Non-Sexual Activity Accidents: The penis hitting a hard surface while in an erect state can cause penile fracture.

Bending During Strong Erection: In rare cases, even a spontaneous or minimal external force bending of the penis during a strong erection can cause the membrane to tear.

“Taquinazo” or “Penis Snap” Syndrome: Fracture that occurs as a result of the penis bending during an erection with a sudden movement while sleeping or awake.

What are the Symptoms of Penile Fracture?

Symptoms of penile fracture are usually noticed immediately after the incident and may include:

  • severe pain
  • “pop” or “crack” sound
  • loss of erection
  • bruising and discoloration
  • abnormal penis shape
  • difficulty urinating

How is Penile Fracture Diagnosed?

The diagnosis of penile fracture is typically made through detailed examination of the patient’s clinical history and physical examination findings:

How it Happened: Detailed information about the event that caused the symptoms is obtained from the patient.

Onset of Symptoms: Symptoms such as sudden pain, hearing a “pop” sound, and rapid loss of erection are questioned.

Visual Evaluation: External appearance changes such as bruising, swelling, and abnormal shape of the penis are examined.

Evaluation by Touch: Soft tissue abnormalities are examined by palpation, especially to determine if there is a tear in the tunica albuginea membrane.

Imaging Tests: Imaging tests can be used to confirm the diagnosis and determine the size and location of the tear.

Ultrasound: It provides a detailed view of the internal structure of the penis and can identify the tear in the tunica albuginea.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging: It offers a high accuracy rate in the diagnosis of penile fractures and can be used especially in the evaluation of complex cases.

Retrograde Urethrogram: It can be performed to evaluate if the urethra is damaged.

How is Penile Fracture Treated?

The treatment of penile fracture usually requires urgent surgical intervention:

Repairing the Tear: The surgeon accesses the torn tunica albuginea by making an incision in the penis and repairs the tear with stitches.

Bleeding Control: If there is bleeding, the surgeon takes measures to stop the bleeding and ensure drainage of blood.

Evaluation of Urethral Damage: The presence of urethral damage is evaluated along with penile fracture.

Rest: It is recommended that the patient rests and minimizes pressure on the penis after surgery.

Cold Application: Cold compress can be applied to the penis within the first 24-48 hours after surgery to reduce swelling.

Pain Management: Painkillers may be prescribed for postoperative pain relief.

Avoiding Sexual Activity: Sexual activity should be avoided until full recovery is achieved.

Doctor Check-ups: Regular doctor check-ups after surgery are important to ensure that the healing process is proceeding correctly.

Long-term Monitoring: After penile fracture, long-term outcomes, especially in terms of sexual function and penis shape, should be evaluated.

How Should Penile Fracture be Managed?

The management of penile fracture involves urgent treatment of the patient, prevention of long-term complications, and optimization of functional outcomes:

Emergency Medical Evaluation: Patients showing symptoms of penile fracture should seek immediate medical evaluation in the emergency department.

Accurate Diagnosis: A rapid and accurate diagnosis should be made through physical examination and, if necessary, imaging methods.

Emergency Surgery: Surgical intervention is generally the most effective treatment method in penile fracture cases.

Evaluation of Urethral Damage: During surgery, if there is urethral damage, it should also be evaluated and repaired if necessary.

Rest: Ensuring adequate rest for the patient during the recovery process is important.

Pain Management: Pain relievers can be used to provide postoperative relief.

Avoiding Sexual Activity: Sexual activity should be avoided until full recovery is achieved.

Cold Application: Cold compress within the first 24-48 hours can assist in reducing swelling and bruising.

Regular Follow-ups: Regular medical follow-up after surgery is important to monitor the healing process and detect possible complications early.

Evaluation of Functional Outcomes: Evaluation of sexual function and urination function is important in long-term follow-up.

Patient Education: Patients and their partners should be informed about the recovery process, sexual health, and future precautions.

Psychological Support: Psychological support or counseling can be helpful during this process.

The article What is Penile Fracture? first appeared on Probiyotix.

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