Reconstructive Transplantation for Penile Restoration

Male genitourinary trauma often results in devastating physical and psychological sequellae. Traditional options for autologous reconstruction do not fully restore form and function and are prone to significant complications involving urinary strictures and fistulae as well as prosthesis extrusion; we believe that reconstructive transplantation may provide improved outcomes for select patients. Thus far, penile allotransplantation has been performed twice with mixed results. Prior to more widespread implementation, carefully attention must be directed toward minimizing the benefits and minimizing the risks associated with this procedure. There are also a number of ethical considerations unique to penile transplantation that must be considered. In this article, we review the potential risks, benefits and ethical considerations pertaining to penile transplantation and discuss approaches to optimize outcomes.