Surgery For Peyronie’s Disease

Peyronie’s Disease is a condition where plaques form underneath the skin of the penis and lead to a curvature of the organ. There are both surgical and non-surgical treatments for Peyronie’s Disease.

How To Treat Peyronie’s With Surgery

Surgery is reserved for men with severe, disabling penile deformities that prevent satisfactory sexual intercourse. Most physicians recommend avoiding surgery until the plaque and deformity have been stable and the patient pain-free for at least six months. An evaluation of the penile blood supply using an injection of erection producing medications is often done prior to any surgery. A penile ultrasound may be performed at the same time. These two tests permit assessment of whether or not the man has significant ED and may also provide important anatomical information that will help guide the choice of surgical procedure.

There are three general approaches to surgical correction of Peyronie’s disease:

Procedures that shorten the side of the penis opposite the plaque/curvature: This results in penile straightening; however the plaque itself is not removed. These procedures are generally safe, technically easy, and carry a low risk of complications such as bleeding or worsening erectile function. One particular disadvantage of these approaches is that they tend to be associated with some loss of penile length. For this reason shortening procedures are generally preferred in men with mild or no erectile dysfunction, mild to moderate curvatures, and long penises.  

Procedures that lengthen the side of the penis that is curved: These procedures are indicated when the curvature is severe or there is significant indentation causing a hinge-effect or buckling of the penis due to the narrowed segment in the penile shaft. In these cases, the surgeon incises (cuts) the plaque to release tension. In some cases a segment of the plaque may be removed. After the plaque has been incised, the resulting hole in the tunica must be filled with a graft. In most cases, this procedure does not cause significant shortening of the penis. Unfortunately, this type of procedure is technically challenging and carries a risk of worsening erectile function. Therefore, lengthening/grafting procedures are typically not recommended except in cases of severe deformity in men with adequate erectile function at baseline.

Autologous tissue grafts: These grafts are made of tissue taken from another part of the patient’s body during surgery. Examples of grafts used for Peyronie’s disease include saphenous vein (taken from leg) and temporalis fascia (harvested from behind the ear). Autologous grafts are living tissue and generally incorporate into surgical sites much more readily than some other materials. Disadvantages of autologous grafts include the need for a second incision to harvest the graft.

Non-autologous allografts: These grafts are sheets of tissue that are commercially produced using human or animal sources. Prior to use they are sterilized and processed to remove all potentially infectious particles. These grafts are gradually digested by the body but they serve as scaffolds for the growth of fresh healthy tissues produced by the patient’s own body. They are generally well tolerated by most patients and negate the need for a second incision although they are somewhat expensive.

Placement of penile prosthetic devices: Placement of an inflatable penile pump or malleable silicone rods inside the corpora is a good treatment option for men with Peyronie’s disease and moderate to severe erectile dysfunction. In most cases, implanting such a device alone will straighten the penis, correcting its rigidity. When device placement alone does not sufficiently straighten the penis, the surgeon may further straighten the penis by cracking the plaque against the rigid prosthesis or by incising the plaque and subsequently covering the incision with a graft material.

What can be expected after surgery for Peyronie’s disease?

A light pressure dressing is typically left on the penis for 24 to 72 hours after the surgery to prevent bleeding and hold the repair in place. In some cases, patients will wake up with a catheter in the bladder but this is usually removed in the recovery room. Most patients are discharged later the same day or the following morning. The patient is also often given several days of antibiotics to reduce the risk of infection and inflammation and pain medication for discomfort. In most cases surgeons recommend not engaging in sexual activity for at least 4-6 weeks after surgery, longer in some cases of complex repairs. At your visit, we will discuss detailed post-operative instructions and expectations based on the type of surgery you had.