In a new report, British doctors detail the first known case of a "vertical fracture" of the penis during sex. The man underwent successful surgery and was able to resume normal sexual activity six months later.
A penile fracture is defined as a tear of the tunica albuginea , an envelope made up of connective tissue surrounding the cavernous body, an erectile tissue that gorges itself with blood during the erection phase (there are two of them in the penis). This type of fracture occurs when the erect penis is subjected to an abnormal "bending" force inducing excessive intracavernous pressure exceeding the tensile strength of the tunica albuginea.
Up to 88.5% of penile fractures occur during sex , and this injury is most common in men in their 40s who typically report a "popping sensation" and immediate tumescence (a swollen organ). There will also be a blood effusion in the tissues. This then changes the coloring of the penis which suddenly resembles an eggplant).
This type of fracture is relatively rare. According to a meta-analysis published in 2016, it only affects about one in 175,000 men . However, should such trauma occur, surgery should be performed within 24 hours to reduce the risk of long-term complications (erectile dysfunction, excessive curvature of the penis or disturbance of urinary flow).
So far, all documented cases have reported a transverse tunica albuginea fracture. In a case report published in the British Medical Journal Case Reports, British urologists detail the first documented case of vertical penile fracture confirmed by MRI.
The patient, a 40-year-old male, visited the hospital a few months ago to report that his penis had "sagged" against his perineum. his partner. The symptoms described were progressive tumescence, moderate swelling, but no “popping” or cracking sensation. A penile MRI finally confirmed a vertical rupture of the tunica albuginea (from top to bottom therefore) on the ventral surface of the right cavernous body, over approximately three centimeters (see figures 1 and 2 below).
The man was finally successfully operated on and was able to resume sexual activity six months later. In the case report, doctors point out that postoperative erections were "of the same quality as before the injury “.
