A cost-effective modified split graft technique using bovine pericardium after plaque excision in Peyronie's disease - An initial experience.

Abstract

Aims: The plaque excision and grating technique is indicated for correcting penile curvature in Peyronie's disease. We assessed our experience of the modified split graft technique using bovine pericardium after plaque excision.

Materials and methods: Between March 2020 and September 2024, we operated on 12 patients by the excision of plaque and split grafting technique. Here, we discuss our experience customizing a bovine pericardium graft on a table according to the size of the defect and joining pieces of graft and tunica albuginea with a Polydioxanone (PDS) suture to cover the cavernosal defect.

Results: Patients' mean age and follow-up were 48 years and 30 months, respectively. The average size of the plaque and penile curvature was 4.6 cm (range 1.5-8 cm) and 45°, respectively. No residual penile curvature was observed in 83.5% of patients while (16.5%) had curvature of <20°. All patients experienced an improvement in stretched penile length with an average increase of 1.6 cm. Seventy-five percent of patients were able to perform sexual activity without assistance after 3 months. One patient, who had a sizeable cavernosal defect of 8 cm × 2 cm, experienced severe postoperative erectile dysfunction (ED) along with residual penile curvature of 15° and required semi-rigid penile prosthesis. Two patients having mild ED was managed by Tadalafil 10 mg. Another patient with residual chordee of <20° was managed on conservative therapy.

Conclusions: In our limited experience, this modified split graft technique using bovine pericardium after plaque excision seems feasible, cost-effective, and safe. It has comparable outcomes to the standard methods reported in the literature and reduces graft material wastage. Further, long-term randomized trials are needed to validate its long-term efficacy and safety compared to conventional grafting approaches.