Penile Fracture: Our Experience in Korle Bu Teaching Hospital in Accra, Ghana.

Abstract

Introduction: Penile fracture is a rare yet urgent urological condition, predominantly diagnosed through careful history-taking and clinical examination. This study aims to share our institutional experience in managing this condition at a tertiary referral centre.

Materials and methods: A retrospective analysis was performed on 17 cases of penile fracture over 30 months. Investigated parameters included the mechanism of injury, patient age, time to presentation, intra-operative findings, presence of urethral involvement, length of hospital stay, complications, and post-operative erectile function as assessed by the International Index of Erectile Function-5 questionnaire.

Results: The average age of the patients was 36.9 years. Patients presented on average within 29 h post-injury, and the mean duration of long-term follow-up was 14.3 months. Most cases (76.5%) involved the right corpus cavernosum, 58.8% affected the proximal penile shaft, and 70.6% impacted the ventral aspect of the penis. Post-operative complications included wound infections in 17.6% of patients, mild penile curvature (<30°), painful sexual intercourse in 23.5% of cases, and mild erectile dysfunction evident in 41.2% of patients.

Conclusion: Prompt diagnosis and immediate surgical intervention for penile fractures are crucial for reducing complications and preserving both erectile and voiding functions. The data supports the notion that timely surgical management is particularly beneficial in minimising long-term functional deficits.