Penile fracture occurs when the penis is pressed incorrectly and excessively, resulting in a fracture, which corresponds to the rupture of the organ’s tissues.
The fracture of the penis is perceived by a clicking sound, in addition to there being intense pain, loss of erection, swelling of the area and the appearance of a hematoma.
In the presence of signs indicating a fracture in the penis, it is essential that the man goes to the emergency room so that treatment can begin, which normally involves surgery to repair the ruptured tissues, so that full recovery takes approximately 4 to 6 weeks.
Penile fracture symptoms
The main signs and symptoms indicative of penile fracture are:
- Crack when the organ’s tissues rupture;
- Strong pain;
- Loss of erection;
- Swelling at the site;
- Hematoma;
- Penis deformity;
- Enlargement of the scrotum, in some cases;
- Blood in the urine and difficulty urinating, if it has affected the urethra.
As soon as signs and symptoms indicative of a penile fracture are observed, it is essential that the man is taken to the emergency room so that a clinical evaluation can be carried out and appropriate treatment can be started.
Confirmation of the fracture is done by observing the penis by a urologist, however, in some cases, the doctor may recommend carrying out some tests to assess the severity of the fracture and check whether the urethra has been compromised, and ultrasound, cavernosography may be recommended. , urethrocystography and cystoscopy.
Main causes
A fracture in the penis is most often a consequence of sexual intercourse, in which there may be, by accident, excessive pressure on the penis so that the fracture occurs. However, penile fracture can also be a consequence of excessive or incorrect masturbation, trying to put on clothes with the penis erect or rolling over on the penis during sleep when having a spontaneous erection, for example.
Furthermore, penile fracture can also be a consequence of forcing the penis to flex so that it returns to a flaccid state after erection.
Penis fracture treatment
Penis fracture treatment is done through surgery, which consists of repairing the ruptured tissues and which must be done within 6 hours after the fracture, as the sooner it is done, the better the recovery will be and the lower the possibility of sequelae, such as erectile dysfunction or penile tortuosity. In general, the hospital stay is 2 to 3 days.
In addition, the doctor may also recommend the use of anti-inflammatory medications, analgesics and antibiotics, in some cases, to alleviate the pain and discomfort caused by the fracture and to prevent infections after surgery. During recovery, it is also recommended to place ice on the region, take medications that inhibit involuntary nocturnal erections and not have intimate contact for around 4 to 6 weeks.
Possible sequels
The most common sequelae of the fracture can be: curvature of the erect penis and erectile dysfunction, as scar tissue prevents the penis from being erect normally.
However, these complications usually only occur when hospital treatment is not provided or when the man delays seeking medical help.
Bibliography
- TAMHANKAR, AS et al. Fractured Penis: Not So Rare!. Urol Int. Vol.99(1). 63-68, 2017
- EL-ASSMY, Ahmed et al. Long-term outcome of surgical treatment of penile fracture complicated by urethral rupture. J Sex With. Vol.7(11). 3784–3788, 2010
- CARVALHO JUNIOR, Arlindo M. et al. Penis fracture with urethral trauma. Rev. Col. Bras. Cir. Vol.40(4). 351-353, 2013
