The diagnosis and treatment of penile fracture: our 19-year experience.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate our approach to the diagnosis and treatment of penile fracture. METHODS: We retrospectively evaluated the results of 107 patients with penile fracture treated in our clinic between January 1990 and January 2009. Patient age, etiology of each fracture, history, physical examination results, radiologic findings, type of treatment, and postoperative complications were recorded. In 5 cases cavernosography was performed and in 8 cases retrograde urethrography. RESULTS: The most common etiologies of penile fracture were coitus and manually bending the penis for detumescence. Diagnoses were made based on history and physical examination in 102 patients and cavernosography in 5 patients. In order to evaluate urethral injury in 8 cases, retrograde urethrography was performed. Rupture was repaired surgically in 101 patients, but 6 patients were treated conservatively. Among the 6 conservatively treated patients, 3 developed penile curvature 6 months post-treatment; no complications occurred in the surgically treated patients. CONCLUSION: Cavernosography should be performed only when history and physical examination are insufficient for diagnosis, and retrograde urethrography should be performed when urethral injury is suspected. In order to prevent the development of penile curvature and to ensure rapid recovery, early surgical repair is advised.

Is procalcitonin valuable in the differential diagnosis of testicular torsion and epididymo-orchitis.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of procalcitonin (PCT) in the differential diagnosis of testicular torsion and epididymo-orchitis. METHODS: This experimental study was performed in the research laboratory of Dicle University, School of Medicine, Diyarbakir, Turkey between March and June 2008. The study included 24 male rats randomized equally in 3 groups: sham, epididymo-orchitis, and torsion groups. Blood samples were obtained from all rats at the beginning of the study. After torsion and infection occurred in the testes, new blood samples were obtained for PCT measurement. Then, all the right testes of the rats were excised for histopathological evaluation. The Wilcoxon signed test was used for statistical evaluation. RESULTS: Pre- and post PCT levels were statically compared, and PCT levels were significantly higher in the epididymo-orchitis group. CONCLUSION: Procalcitonin could be an easy, fast, and safe marker for use in the differential diagnosis of testicular torsion and epididymo-orchitis.