The role of preoperative ultrasound in the diagnosis of penile fractures and the effect of tunica defect length on postoperative functional outcomes

Purpose This study aimed to investigate the rate of tunica defect detection by postoperative penile ultrasound (US) and the effect of tunica defect length (TDL) on functional outcomes. Methods Forty-six patients who underwent early penile fracture surgery in our hospital between July 2010 and December 2018 were included in the study. Each diagnosis was made via history, physical examination and US. Functional outcomes were assessed at 3, 6 and 12 months postoperatively. The International Index of Erectile Function-5 (IIEF-5) score was used to assess erectile function. US detection rates for tunica defects, as well as whether the rates changed according to TDL, were also analysed. The TDL cut-off value for US detection was determined to be 11 mm using the receiver operating characteristic curve. The impact of TDL on functional outcomes was also evaluated using this cut-off value. Results The main cause of fractures in 34 patients (74%) was sexual intercourse. One patient (2.2%) had penile curvature, and 16 (34.8%) had penile nodules in the follow-ups. US had a higher detection rate in the group with TDL >11mm (94% vs 25%). IIEF-5 scores at the postoperative third month were statistically lower in patients with TDL >11mm (n = 34) compared with those with ≤11 mm (n = 12). The rate of penile nodules was found to be statistically higher in the group with TDL >11mm at the end of the 1-year follow-up period (44.1% vs 8.3%). Conclusions US is a valuable tool for the detection of tunica defects especially with >11mm length. In addition, TDL >11 mm in penile fractures is associated with lower IIEF-5 scores in the early postoperative period and higher rates of penile nodules.