Traumatic Rupture of Corpus cavernosum

Abstract

Fracture of the corpus cavernosum occurs when one or both corpora are ruptured usually during sexual intercourse and less often owing to blunt trauma. The injury may be associated with an urethral lesion and is easy to recognize; the treatment, however, remains controversial. 7/8 patients had primary or secondary surgical therapy, 1/8 was treated by conservative measures. The results after surgery were very satisfactory, with no immediate perioperative or postoperative complications. The success rate of the surgical management corresponds to a high degree with reports from the literature (complication rate is less than 10%). Based on literature review, conservative treatment is associated with a 25–30% complication rate. Early surgical repair might be the treatment of choice for rupture of the corpus cavernosum with and/or without concomitant lesion of the urethra.

Consensus on genitourinary trauma: external genitalia

“…The injury occurs almost exclusively distal to the penile suspensory ligament. Usually only one corporal body is injured, but both corpora can be affected, depending on the nature and severity of the trauma [38]. Significant bleeding takes place and fills all fascial compartments between the skin and the fractured tunica albuginea.…”

Case of Penile Fracture Revealing Bilateral Corporal Cavernosal Tears and Complete Urethral Disruption

“…4 In the flaccid penis, the tunica albuginea is approximately 2 mm in thickness; however, during an erection it is approximately 0.5 mm thick. The tunica albuginea also has relative inelasticity during the tumescent state.…”

Fracture of the Penis: A Critique of Clinical Features and Management

“…The "conservative management" advocated by some workers in the past 17,21,31 has now been abandoned by most surgeons because of its high complication rate, reaching 25% to 53%. 23,32 Some authors 6 advocate the use of a direct incision for basal tears, while subcoronal circumferential incisions have been used for distal tears. Others 7 recommend the use of direct incisions for recent trauma and subcoronal for cases with large hematomas.…”