Penile length after penile implant surgery is determined by stretched penile length before surgery

Abstract

Background: While various treatment modalities exist, penile prosthesis (PP) implantation offers a permanent solution for patients that do not respond to or are not suitable for other treatment options for erectile dysfunction. Aim: The aim of this study was to establish stretched penile length before surgery as a reliable determining factor of penile length after penile implant surgery. Methods: For this study, data on penile length before and after PP surgery from three European centers was analyzed. Penile length measurements were conducted preoperatively and postoperatively in different conditions using standardized techniques. Only virgin cases were included and a complete case analysis was performed. Outcome: The outcome of this study was the comparison of stretched penile length before and the inflated penile length after PP surgery. Results: Data on penile length before and after PP of 361 patients was analyzed. Preoperative stretched penile length was equal to postoperative inflated penile length in 33% of patients. The absolute mean difference between pre-surgery stretched and postoperative inflated lengths was 1.1 cm. No correlation was found between implanted cylinder length and postoperative penile length. Additionally, the choice of implant type did not significantly affect postoperative penile length outcomes. Clinical implications: Our findings confirm the reliability of preoperative stretched penile length as a tool for proper patient counseling before PP surgery. Strengths & Limitations: Although our study is overpowered, our results show that preoperative stretched penile length serves as a reliable predictor of postoperative penile length outcomes after PP surgery. By providing clinicians with a tool for patient counseling, our findings contribute to enhancing satisfaction and quality of life outcomes in patients undergoing PP implantation. Conclusion: Preoperative stretched penile length serves as a reliable predictor of postoperative penile length outcomes after PP surgery.