Page 26 - Urological Health
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2. Penile fracture
The problem: A penile fracture happens when your penis is injured
during sex. The injury causes a hole (or fracture) in the wall of your
erection (also called erection chamber) (Figure 3).
• The hole usually happens when your partner is on top;
something goes wrong and you hear a “pop” sound, you
feel a lot of pain and you have some bruising (or
combination of all of these).
• This can also happen when you penetrate your partner
from behind and you miss; this causes your penis to bend.
• Masturbation rarely causes a penile fracture.
Symptoms:
Figure 3. A fractured penis;
• Pain notice the black/blue bruising and
the swelling.
• Swelling
• Bruising
• If your penis is an eggplant-colour or if there is blood your urine after the injury, you
should go to the ER.
Tests: Your doctor will suspect a penile fracture when there is blood at the tip of your penis or blood
in your urine (these also hint at a possible injury to your urethra as well).
• An ultrasound will pinpoint the site of the injury and will determine the type of surgery,
if available.
• If there is even a suspicion of a fracture, your doctor will operate and repair the damage
immediately.
• If the doctor suspects an injury to your urethra or if you cannot urinate, you will be given
a retrograde urethrogram to check out any damaage (a catheter is placed in the tip of the
penis and dye is injected into the urethra; your penis is then X-rayed to look for any leaks
or tears). If there is a tear or leak, it will be repaired.
Treatment: Surgery is most successful when it is done soon after the injury.
• Your penile fracture may lead to erectile dysfunction or a deformed penis.
• The doctor may close the “fracture” or “burst” areas with a cut along the foreskin (also
called a circumcision incision) to find the damaged areas; in some cases, you may have a
straight-line cut at the bottom of your penis.
3. Circumcision complications (in children)
The problem: In newborns, circumcision is performed under local anesthesia and without stitches.
Serious complications are rare, but local infection and bleeding may require a trip to the ER.
Symptoms: Bleeding is usually venous oozing, and may respond to local pressure. Swelling, drainage
of pus, fever, or difficulty urinating may occur.
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