Objectives
To determine patient satisfaction with testicular prostheses (TP) for testicular cancer.
Reconstruction represents an important part of surgical oncology, yet placement of
TP following orchiectomy is infrequently performed. Improved data on patient satisfaction
with TP would help in counseling patients with testicular cancer.
Materials and Methods
Forty patients who underwent orchiectomy and TP placement for testicular cancer participated
in a survey that was blinded to the providers in an outpatient clinic (2012-2014)
to evaluate TP satisfaction. Categorical variables associated with satisfaction were
compared using the Fisher's exact test.
Results
Median age at TP placement was 31 years (17-59). Most patients had their prosthesis
in place for >1 year (81%) at the time of the survey. No patient reported complications
from the TP and none underwent explantation. All patients felt that being offered
an implant before orchiectomy was important. Overall, 33 patients (82.5%) rated the
TP as good or excellent, and 35 men (87.5%) would have the prosthesis implanted again.
Thirty-seven patients (92.5%) found the TP to be comfortable or very comfortable.
However, 44% considered the TP too firm and 20% felt the position was not appropriate.
Appropriate size, appropriate position, and TP comfort were significantly associated
with good or excellent overall TP satisfaction (P < .05).
Conclusion
Overall satisfaction with testicular implants after orchiectomy for testicular cancer
is high. Patients should be offered a testicular prosthesis, especially at the time
of orchiectomy. Efforts should be made to optimize implant firmness, and care should
be given to proper size selection and positioning.
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: December 27, 2017
Accepted:
December 5,
2017
Received:
September 5,
2017
Footnotes
Financial Disclosure: The authors declare that they have no relevant financial interests.
Identification
Copyright
© 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
