Factors affecting the loss of length associated with tunica albuginea plication for correction of penile curvature.

PURPOSE: Loss of length is a common postoperative complaint of the patient who undergoes surgical correction of penile curvature. We investigate the factors influencing complications in patients who have undergone TAP for PD and chordee.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 102 patients underwent TAP for PD (68) or chordee (34) between 1997 and 2004. Data were gathered on each patient's preoperative complaints, physical examination, Doppler ultrasound, operative data and postoperative complaints. For the purposes of this study penile length was measured from pubis to corona along the dorsal surface of the stretched phallus.

RESULTS: Mean ages at surgery for men with PD and chordee were 53 and 24, respectively. A range of 1 to 6 plications were performed on each patient (mean 3) with an acceptably straight penis (curve less than 20 degrees) being achieved in 99% of patients. Mean followup for our patient population was 29 months and revealed only 1 patient with residual curvature. The mean loss in length after TAP was 0.36 +/- 0.5 cm with a range of 0 to 2.5 cm. When calculated as a percent of length lost from preoperative length, the postoperative percent length lost was 2.4%. When stratified into groups based on direction of curvature, the patients with ventral or ventrolateral curve had the highest percent loss of length. A 1-way ANOVA of these groups proved the differences between each group to be statistically significant (p = 0.04). Length change also significantly correlated with preoperative stretched penile length and the severity of curvature as measured in degrees in the operating room at time of surgery. Parameters that did not demonstrate a statistically significant impact on penile shortening included patient age, number of plications performed, plaque size, and hinge/narrowing effect due to a PD plaque.

CONCLUSIONS: The TAP procedure is a safe and effective means of correcting penile curvature, with similar overall outcomes between patients with PD and chordee. Shortening of the penis does commonly occur but is dependent on direction and degree of curvature, as well as the length of the phallus.