Abstract
Objectives. To evaluate changes in stretched penile length after radical retropubic
prostatectomy (RRP) in a prospective penile measurement study because an occasional
complaint from patients after RRP is that their penis is shortened.
Methods. Thirty-one patients undergoing RRP by one surgeon were enrolled. The same
physician completed measurements with a paper ruler to the nearest 0.5 cm. The stretched
penile length was measured from the tip of the glans to the pubopenile skin junction.
The measurements were taken in the preoperative holding area before the patient received
anesthetic medication for the RRP and again 3 months postoperatively. The reliability
and reproducibility of this measurement were confirmed.
Results. All 31 patients were measured at 3 months postoperatively. Of the 31 patients,
22 (71%) had a decrease in stretched penile length (range 0.5 to 4.0 cm). Seven were
shortened 0.5 cm, 11 were shortened 1.0 to 2.0 cm, and 4 were shortened more than
2.0 cm. Five patients had no change, and in four the penile length was longer (range
0.5 to 1.0 cm).
Conclusions. The results of this pilot study appear to show that the stretched penile
length decreases after RRP at 3 months of follow-up in most men; 48% (15 of 31) had
considerable shortening greater than 1.0 cm. If confirmed by other investigators,
the cause of this change needs to be elucidated.
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References
- Penile length in the flaccid and erect states.J Urol. 1996; 156: 995-997
- Apoptosis in the rat penis after penile denervation.J Urol. 1997; 158: 626-630
- Penile fibrotic changes after radical retropubic prostatectomy.Br J Urol. 2000; 85: 101-106
- Changes in penile morphometrics in men with erectile dysfunction after nerve-sparing radical retropubic prostatectomy.Mol Urol. 1999; 3: 109-115
Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
May 22,
2001
Received in revised form:
May 22,
2001
Received:
March 21,
2001
Identification
Copyright
© 2001 Elsevier Science Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
