New surgical technique for the treatment of buried penis: results and comparison with a traditional technique in 75 patients

Abstract

Introduction: Buried penis is a pathology for which several reconstructive techniques are described. We report our technique and its outcome.

Patients and methods: 75 patients underwent repair of buried penis by one surgeon (P.H.) between 1997 and 2011. The first 17 patients (mean age 2.6 years) underwent skin-sparing circumcision. The next 58 patients (47 children, mean age 4.4 years; 11 adults, mean age 38 years) underwent our new technique. Its key point consists in releasing dartos tissue and in anchoring the corpora cavernosa to dartos bundles at the penile base. Outcome was evaluated by reoperation rate, complications and satisfaction according to surgeon/patients/parents.

Results: The results of skin-sparing circumcision performed in 17 children at 1 year were reported as good by the surgeon in 62.5% (n = 10) and in 82.4% (n = 14) by patients. Reoperation for recurrence occurred in 29.4% (n = 5) patients. Complications treated conservatively were reported in 35.3% (n = 6) of the children. The new technique was performed in 58 patients (47 children, 11 adults). The results were reported as good by the surgeon in 96.6% (n = 56) and in 91.4% (n = 53) by patients. Reoperation occurred in 4 patients (6.9%).

Conclusions: The outcome of the new technique is superior to skin-sparing circumcision regarding complication/reoperation rate and cosmesis according to patients/parents/surgeon.