Can it wait? A systematic review of immediate vs. delayed surgical repair of penile fractures.

INTRODUCTION: Penile fractures have classically been thought to require immediate surgical intervention; however, recent series have described acceptable outcomes with delayed repair. In this systematic review, we compared complication rates between immediate and delayed repair of penile fractures. METHODS: A systematic search of MEDLINE, Embase, CENTRAL, and Web of Science was performed with predefined search terms between 1974 and 2015. Titles and abstracts were screened prior to full-text review and quality appraisal by two independent investigators. Abstracted outcomes included postoperative erectile dysfunction (ED), tunical scar formation, and penile curvature. Only studies reporting a direct comparison of complications following immediate (<24 hours from injury to presentation/surgery) and delayed (>24 hours) repair of penile fractures were included. RESULTS: A total of 12 studies met inclusion criteria. All were retrospective, observational studies of low or moderate methodological quality. Of the reported 502 patients, 391 underwent immediate repair and 111 delayed repair. In the immediate repair group, the percent of patients with postoperative ED, tunical scars, and curvature were 6.6%, 5.4%, and 1.8%, respectively, while in the delayed group, the rates of ED, tunical scars, and curvature were 4.5% across the board. Rates of ED and tunical scar formation following immediate compared to delayed repair trended towards favouring immediate repair, but did not differ significantly, while rates of curvature significantly favoured immediate repair. However, cases of curvature were typically reported as mild and none affected sexual functioning. CONCLUSIONS: In this systematic review, we demonstrated that ED and tunical scar formation rates between immediate and delayed repair of penile fractures were statistically similar, while immediate repair had a lower rate of penile curvature. Although this suggests that a brief delay in repair may be acceptable in select patients, the results should be interpreted with caution, as the included studies were of low or moderate methodological quality. Most importantly, this review highlights the deficiencies in the current penile fracture literature, setting the stage to improve the quality of future studies.

Management of pelvic fracture-associated urethral injuries: A survey of Canadian urologists.

INTRODUCTION: The management of pelvic fracture-associated urethral injuries (PFUI) is not standardized and optimal management is controversial. We surveyed Canadian urologists about their experiences and opinions regarding optimal management of PFUI. METHODS: Canadian urologists were surveyed via an anonymous, bilingual, web-based, 12-item questionnaire. A total of 735 Canadian urologists were invited to participate via email distributed by the Canadian Urological Association. RESULTS: Of the 146 urologists who participated (19.9% response rate), the majority practice at a trauma centre (53.2%), but manage only 1-5 PFUI/year (71.5%). Most participants (82.6%) favour primary realignment compared to suprapubic (SP) tube with delayed repair (15.3%) and immediate reconstruction (2.1%). Compared to SP diversion and delayed repair, the majority of participants believe primary realignment is associated with equivocal incontinence (61.2%) and erectile dysfunction rates (75.8%), but has lower stricture rates (73.0%). Among respondents who perform primary realignment, 45.4% concurrently place a SP tube, while 54.6% do not. While 91% believe SP tubes do not increase the risk of pelvic hardware infections, 31.6% report that orthopedic surgeons alter their management of pelvic fractures in the presence of a SP tube. CONCLUSIONS: Most Canadian urologist respondents - even those practicing at trauma centres - manage very few PFUIs/year. There is reasonable consensus among respondents that primary realignment is favourable to delayed or immediate reconstruction, but discordance on whether or not to place concurrent SP tubes. The urological and orthopedic consequences of SP tubes in the management of traumatic urological injuries warrant further investigation.

Primary realignment vs suprapubic cystostomy for the management of pelvic fracture-associated urethral injuries: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

OBJECTIVE: To compare primary urethral realignment (PR) with suprapubic cystostomy (SPC) for the management of pelvic fracture-associated posterior urethral injuries with regards to rates of stricture, erectile dysfunction, and urinary incontinence. METHODS: Two electronic databases (MEDLINE and EMBASE) were searched with the assistance of a librarian. Title, abstract, and full text screening was carried out by 2 independent reviewers, with discrepancies resolved by consensus. Narrative reviews, surveys, and historical articles were excluded. Only studies reporting a direct comparison of PR vs SPC for the management of posterior urethral injuries associated with blunt trauma in adults were included. Quality assessment of the included articles was performed in duplicate. Stricture incidence was evaluated for all included studies, as were erectile dysfunction and incontinence rates when reported. All outcomes were treated as dichotomous data with calculation of odds ratio and were pooled using a random effects model with Review Manager 5.1. RESULTS: Our comprehensive search yielded 161 unique articles. Nine articles were included in the final meta-analysis. Stricture rate was significantly lower in the PR group (odds ratio [OR] = 0.12, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.04-0.41, P <.001). There was no significant difference between the 2 interventions with regards to erectile dysfunction (OR = 1.19, 95% CI 0.73-1.92, P = .49) or incontinence (OR = 0.75, 95% CI 0.38-1.48, P = .41). CONCLUSION: PR appears to reduce the incidence of stricture formation after pelvic fracture-associated posterior urethral injuries as compared with SPC.

The urachal flap: a previously unreported tissue flap in vesicovaginal fistula repair.

OBJECTIVES: Tissue interposition is an important part of vesicovaginal fistula (VVF) repair that has been shown to improve success rates. The most common interpositional flap used during a transabdominal VVF repair is the omental flap; however, in some cases, it cannot be used. The urachus is a well-vascularized tissue that is easily mobilized for interposition. We describe our experience using a urachal flap in VVF repair. METHODS: Patients undergoing VVF repair at our center were identified, and a retrospective chart review was performed. Patients who underwent a transabdominal repair with interposition of a urachal flap were included. RESULTS: Thirteen patients were identified between 2005 and 2009. All were evaluated with a history, physical, upper and lower tract imaging, and cystoscopy. Median patient age was 49 years (range, 31-88 years). Fistula etiology was hysterectomy in 11 and prolapse repair in 2. Five patients presented with recurrent fistulas having failed previous repair. Of 13 patients, 12 had successful repairs with our described technique, including 4 patients who failed previous repairs. There was no recurrence of fistula after median follow-up of 6 months (range, 2 weeks to 4 years). Two patients had preoperative and postoperative complaints of stress urinary incontinence that was mild and did not require surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Vesicovaginal fistulas can be a difficult challenge for the reconstructive surgeon. The urachal flap is a well-vascularized tissue flap that can be easily mobilized and interposed for VVF repair. Of 13 patients in this series, 12 were successfully repaired using this technique. We feel that further evaluation and usage of this tissue flap are indicated.

Urothelial carcinoma involving the distal penis.

Urothelial carcinoma (UC) rarely metastasizes to the penis and skin. We report the case of a 73-year-old man with UC metastases to the corpus spongiosum and dermis of the distal penis. We also review the clinicopathologic characteristics and management options for UC metastasizing to the penis. The patient presented with priapism and edema of the genital region. This follows a 5-year history of urothelial carcinoma in situ that progressed to invasive cancer despite intravesical immunotherapy. Seventeen months prior to presentation, the patient underwent a radical cystectomy with adjuvant chemotherapy. The cystectomy specimen demonstrated a pT4a N2 M0 G3 UC and margins were positive for carcinoma in situ. Follow-up had been negative for recurrence until his presentation with priapism. Incisional biopsy of the glans revealed UC and radical penectomy was performed with negative margins. The penile specimen demonstrated extensive involvement of the corpus spongiosum by UC with lymphovascular invasion and subepidermal involvement. Three months after penectomy, the patient presented with inguinal nodal recurrence. Palliative radiotherapy was administered and the patient passed away eight months after surgery.

Urodynamic changes and initial results of the AdVance male sling.

OBJECTIVES: To present the urodynamic changes and early results associated with the AdVance male sling. The AdVance male sling is a treatment option for postprostatectomy incontinence (PPI), with the goal of eliminating urinary incontinence without affecting voiding parameters. A concern of any procedure in treating men with PPI is whether the treatment induces obstruction and causes retention. METHODS: Data were prospectively collected from 13 patients undergoing AdVance male sling placement for PPI. Urodynamic testing was performed at baseline and repeated at 6 months postoperatively. A 24-hour pad test and the Incontinence Quality of Life questionnaire were completed preoperatively and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. RESULTS: The median age at the procedure was 63.3 years (range 44.7-74.7). The mean preoperative and 6-month postoperative patient-reported pad use was 4.52 and 1.04, respectively (2-tailed t test, P = .0009). The 24-hour pad test, performed preoperatively and at 6 months postoperatively, yielded a pad weight of 779.3 and 67.6 g, respectively (P = .03). The Valsalva leak point pressure improved significantly (P = .032), but the detrusor voiding pressure, postvoid residual urine volume, and maximal and average flow rates remained relatively unchanged. At 3 and 6 months postoperatively, the Incontinence Quality of Life scores had improved significantly compared with the preoperative scores (P <.01). CONCLUSIONS: These results are encouraging, because this series has demonstrated a significant improvement in patient-reported pad use, 24-hour pad test weights, and Valsalva leak point pressure without signs of obstruction. The improvement in incontinence was accompanied without any changes in the other voiding parameters and with significant improvement in the quality-of-life measures. Ongoing studies with longer follow-up are pending to compare their results with these promising early results.