A new technique for correction of the hidden penis in children and adults.

PURPOSE: A phenomenon known as hidden penis has numerous origins, including congenital buried penis and obesity with descent of the escutcheon. No previous report to our knowledge mentions abnormal hypermobility of ventral skin and dartos fascia, which is a major cause of surgical treatment failures. Because the skin and dartos fascia are inadequately attached to Buck's fascia, the corporeal bodies telescope proximally inside the scrotum and pubis. Therefore, the subdermis of the penoscrotal junction must also be tacked to the tunica albuginea ventrally to stabilize the proximal penile skin and prevent the penis from retracting into the scrotum. The surgical technique for correction of the hidden penis in adult and pediatric patients with adequate penile shaft skin is described. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Surgery for hidden penis from multiple causes was performed in 6 adults and 7 children. Tacking sutures were taken from the subdermis of the ventral penoscrotal junction to the tunica albuginea in all cases. A combination procedure with either suprapubic dermatolipectomy, tacking of the penopubic subdermis to the rectus fascia, penoscrotal Z plasty, circumcision revision or lateral penile shaft Z plasty also was performed in some patients. RESULTS: Improvement was noted in all cases. One child requires suprapubic lipectomy for optimal improvement and 3 minor wound problems occurred. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery for hidden penis achieves marked aesthetic and often functional improvement. Surgical failure can be diminished by placing ventral tacking sutures from the tunica albuginea to the subdermis of the penoscrotal junction.

Penile enlargement surgery.

Aesthetic surgery to improve the appearance of the penis, scrotum, and pubic region has successfully evolved. Penile lengthening is performed by releasing the suspensory ligament of the penis followed by use of penile weights. Girth is increased by wrapping a dermal-fat graft around the penile circumference. The choice of surgery is determined by the patient's anatomy and desires.

A new technique for aesthetic labia minora reduction.

A new technique has been developed to reduce the labia minora yet maintain the normal labial edge and color. Labia minora enlargement can be congenital or acquired by chronic irritation, exogenous androgenic hormones, and stretching with weights. This can cause inflammation, poor hygiene, interference with sexual intercourse, or intermittent urinary self-catheterization. Aesthetically, asymmetrical or enlarged labia minora causes self-consciousness sexually and when the subject wears tight pants. Previously labia minora reduction was performed by amputation of the protuberant segment and oversewing the edge. Now, rather than amputation, a wedge of protuberant labial tissue is excised and the labial edges are reapproximated. Four patients have undergone this aesthetic procedure with excellent results. No complications occurred. The new technique is relatively simple and can greatly enhance the patient's confidence.

Use of a prefabricated tunica vaginalis fascia flap to reconstruct the tunica albuginea after recurrent penile prosthesis extrusion.

PURPOSE: Although a penile prosthesis usually perforates into the urethra, it can extrude through the glans or corporeal shaft. Various materials have been used to reconstruct tunica albuginea but no method of repair has been satisfactory in such difficult cases. Repair of the weakened tunica albuginea should ideally be performed with autogenous tissues. Inasmuch as the scarred tissue bed is inadequate to ensure graft survival and no local flaps are available for this purpose, prefabrication of a local flap has been designed. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We present 2 cases in which the distal corpus was reconstructed with a prefabricated tunica vaginalis fascia flap. The first stage involves grafting rectus fascia onto the external tunica vaginalis of the testicle. At the second stage the prefabricated tunica vaginalis fascia flap is transposed to the distal corpus, placing it as a buttress between the cylinder and urethra medially or between the cylinder and thin lateral and distal tunica albuginea. The flap also replaces part of the tunica albuginea. RESULTS: In both patients repair of the tunica albuginea was successful and each has a functioning inflatable penile prosthesis at 2 1/2 1 1/2 years postoperatively, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Reconstruction of the weak tunica albuginea with a prefabricated tunica vaginalis fascia flap is an excellent procedure in these difficult cases.

Reconstruction of deformities resulting from penile enlargement surgery.

PURPOSE: More than 30 patients presented for reconstruction of penile deformities secondary to penile enlargement surgery performed by other physicians. Lengthening was performed by releasing the suspensory ligament of the penis and advancing pubic skin with a V-Y advancement flap. Girth was increased by injecting autologous fat. Specific complaints relating to the lengthening procedure involve hypertrophic and/or wide scars, a proximal penile hump from a thick, hair-bearing V-Y flap, and a low hanging penis. Complications relating to autologous fat injections include disappearance of fat, penile lumps and nodules, and shaft deformities. The repair of these deformities is described. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From 1994 through October 1996, 19 men underwent 24 various combinations of reconstructive operations, such as scar revisions, V-Y advancement flap reversal, and removal of fat nodules and asymmetrical fat deposits. RESULTS: Penile appearance and function were improved. Complications include 1 hematoma requiring drainage, minor wound complications and 1 inadequately reversed V-Y flap. CONCLUSIONS: The methods of various repairs are discussed, including reconstructive limitations, timing and staging. Significant improvement can be achieved with proper reconstruction of penile deformities.

Augmentation phalloplasty.

Aesthetic procedures can increase the girth and visual length of the penis. Dermal-fat grafts increase penile circumference without the complications that result from fat injections. Release of the suspensory ligaments with skin advancement may increase flaccid penile length. Suprapubic lipectomy and Z-plasty of a penoscrotal web enhance penile appearance. Accurate diagnosis and meticulous technique are mandatory.

Penile prosthesis implantation in total phalloplasty.

A series is presented of 8 patients who had undergone either total phalloplasty or free flap penile reconstruction. Our experience with prosthetic implantation is reviewed as is a brief history of phallic construction, including previously reported efforts at achieving rigidity with prosthetic implantation, autologous material implantation and so forth. We present in detail our current technique of implantation in these 8 patients, who underwent 10 attempts at implantation. In 4 patients infection necessitated removal of the prosthesis (2 have since undergone successful reimplantation). Of the 8 patients in whom implantation was attempted 6 (60%) currently have prostheses in place.

Buried penis as a contraindication for circumcision.

Neonatal circumcision is a frequently performed procedure with rare complications. Buried penis is an infrequent congenital penile deformity. If unrecognized, circumcision of these infants may have serious consequences. Buried penis refers to a penile shaft that is buried below the surface of the prepubic skin because of an abnormally prominent suprapubic fat pad and dense fascial bands retracting and tethering the penis. Description of the entity and operative repair are discussed. Avoidance of neonatal circumcision in patients with buried penis is imperative to prevent worsening of the condition.

Hemangioma of penis and scrotum.

Hemangiomas of the genitalia are extremely rare. A hemangioma is self-limited and usually resolves spontaneously, therefore conservative treatment is generally recommended. However, genital hemangiomas may require surgical treatment if they become symptomatic. Herein we report a case of hemangioma of the penis and scrotum requiring surgical excision. The natural history and alternative treatments of hemangiomas are described.

Laser interferometry and visual prognosis in uveitis.

Forty-six eyes in 26 patients with active, intermediate, and/or posterior uveitis with decreased visual acuity were evaluated with the laser interferometer before treatment with systemic cyclosporine. Pretreatment visual acuity (ETDRS), pretreatment laser interferometric visual acuity, and the best visual acuity obtained while under treatment were compared. Eighty-six percent of patients in whom the laser interferometer predicted an improvement of three or more lines did improve. In contrast, 52% of patients in whom no improvement was predicted improved three or more lines with therapy. There was a moderate correlation (R = 0.59) (P less than 0.001) between the number of lines of improvement predicted and the number of lines of improvement obtained. If the laser visual acuity is three or more lines better than the eye chart acuity, the prognosis for vision improvement after cyclosporine therapy is good, even in those patients with cystoid macula edema.