Metallic Ring Used for Autoerotic Purpose Leading to Serious Strangulating Penile Injury and Its Management

Abstract

Penile strangulation caused by rings is a rare but challenging problem that a surgeon may come across. Such ringed objects may be placed by perverted men with underlying psychiatric disturbances, or for erotic and autoerotic stimulation and masturbation. Misbelief that a ring application increases and prolongs an erection may also be the cause for such activity. Incarceration of such objects causes distal oedema, ischemia, and at times, gangrene. These injuries have been divided into 5 grades, with surgery being used for advanced grades (grade IV and V). We came across 1 such case with incarceration of a metallic ball-bearing ring around the penis, which we retrieved while preserving the vascularity as well as all of the vital penile tissues, including skin.