Candid Scope
JF-Expert Member
- Nov 8, 2010
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Cross-section of the human penis
Penile fracture
Penile fracture is rupture of one or both of the tunica albuginea, the fibrous coverings that envelop the penis'scorpora cavernosa. It is caused by rapid blunt force to an erect penis, usually during vaginal intercourse or aggressivemasturbation. It sometimes also involves partial or complete rupture of the urethra or injury to the dorsal nerves, veinsand arteries.
A popping or cracking sound, significant pain, immediate flaccidity, and skin hematoma of various sizes are commonly associated with the event.
Treatment and prognosis
Penile fracture is a medical emergency, and emergency surgical repair is the usual treatment. Delay in seeking treatment increases the complication rate. Non-surgical approaches result in 1050% complication rates including erectile dysfunction, permanent penile curvature, damage to the urethra and pain during sexual intercourse, while operatively treated patients experience an 11% complication rate.
In some cases, retrograde urethrogram may be performed to rule out concurrent urethral injury.
Causes
Vaginal/anal intercourse and aggressive masturbation are the most common causes but the practice of taqaandan (also taghaandan) also puts men at risk of penile fracture. Taqaandan, which comes from a Kurdish word meaning "to click," involves bending the top part of the erect penis while holding the lower part of the shaft in place, until a click is heard and felt. Taqaandan is said to be painless and has been compared to cracking one's knuckles, but the practice of taqaandan has led to an increase in the prevalence of penile fractures in western Iran. Taqaandan may be performed to achieve detumescence.
Is it possible to fracture your penis?
Answers from Erik P. Castle, M.D.
Yes. A penis fracture can occur when there is trauma to the erect penis.
During an erection, the penis is engorged with blood. If the penis is bent suddenly or forcefully while it's engorged, the trauma may rupture the lining of one of the two cylinders in the penis (corpus cavernosum) responsible for erections resulting in a penis fracture. The trauma is usually related to aggressive or acrobatic sexual intercourse or, in some cases, aggressive masturbation.
A penis fracture is a painful injury that's often accompanied by an audible cracking sound, followed immediately by dark bruising of the penis due to blood escaping the cylinder. In some cases the tube that drains urine from the body (urethra) may be damaged as well, and blood may be visible at the urinary opening of the penis.
A penis fracture requires urgent medical attention. A penis fracture can usually be diagnosed with a physical exam, and prompt surgical repair is typically recommended. Left untreated, a penis fracture may result in deformity of the penis or the inability to have or maintain an erection (erectile dysfunction).
With
Erik P. Castle, M.D.