Penile prosthesis implantation in a patient with congenital aphallia treated using the De Castro technique 10 years previously. Is it feasible?

Individualized care for patients with intersex (differences of sex development): Diagnosis and treatment of aphallia

This review discusses issues and concerns in the management of aphallia, updating status of a post-pubertal individual who required further surgery after having initial surgery for aphallia as an infant. Through this case, which discusses an 18-year-old young adult who had penile agenesis, who desired further phalloplasty involving glanuloplasty and implantation of an erectile device, we highlight the importance of periodic evaluation and close follow up. Surgery during infancy or early childhood to create a penis is important for gender development in a boy, especially if there were functional testes during fetal life, even if this surgery would only be the first stage. There is a strong probability of subsequent surgery after initial phalloplasty before puberty, even with the use of currently refined techniques. Here we discuss the changing techniques that document the ongoing, continued refinement of these procedures, highlighting that further outcome data are needed to identify ways to further optimize current techniques.

The dire consequences of multiple failed hypospadias repairs: a case report of a cavernosal reconstruction with mesh and malleable prosthesis

The management of hypospadias during the neonatal period should be carried out exclusively in specialized medical centers because of the potential dire complications that may arise. In this report, we present a case of a 22-year-old male who underwent thirteen unsuccessful surgical procedures for his penoscrotal hypospadias in various hospitals. The purpose of this case report is to describe the surgical correction of severe corporal fibrosis and penile curvature that ensued from the multiple failed hypospadias corrections. We implanted an extra cavernosal malleable penile prosthesis and reconstructed the tunica albuginea defect with surgical meshes used in hernia repairs.

Scrotal flap phalloplasty as temporary neophallus in infants and children with penile agenesis: Multi-institutional experience and long-term follow-up

INTRODUCTION

Aphallia is a rare congenital disorder pertaining to genotypic males. Early surgical creation of a neophallus is recommended to reinforce the child's male gender-identity, favoring proper psychosexual development. Modern microsurgical techniques used to create a neophallus in adults are not recommended in children due to the invasiveness and complexity of the procedures, along with high complication rates. Scrotal flap phalloplasty is a simple and reproducible technique to create a temporary neophallus in prepubertal boys with aphallia.

OBJECTIVE

We present a multi-institutional experience, ten years after the initial description of the scrotal flap phalloplasty (SFP) technique, in which a flap from the well-developed scrotum is used to build a temporary neophallus, without obvious scars in patients with aphallia.

STUDY DESIGN

The records of surgical neophalloplasty for aphallia patients from 4 centers between 2011 and 2021 were reviewed. All patients had at least one year follow-up to assess for short and long-term complications. Age at initial operation, associated anomalies, and other related surgical procedures were analyzed.

RESULTS

The post-operative aesthetic result in all patients was satisfactory and has been maintained in the long-term follow-up, with all patients presenting a cylindrical structure resembling an uncircumcised penis, without evidence of significant contraction or loss of length. (Summary Figure) DISCUSSION: Non-microsurgical neophalloplasty techniques in patients with penile agenesis are temporary procedures that help to establish the body image and preserve the psychosexual development of the patient with aphallia. These techniques do not involve tissue transplant from a distant region, and are simpler to perform, with less scarring at the donor sites. Due to significant donor scars and considerable morbidity and complexity associated with the definitive phalloplasty techniques, we created a simple, reproducible and straightforward procedure to serve as a temporary neophallus in young boys with aphallia. As affected patients usually have a well-formed scrotum with normal and orthotopic testicles, it is the ideal donor site for a temporary neo-phallus in childhood. Furthermore, other donor sites are preserved for a definitive phalloplasty. There are limitations to this study, as quality of life could not be assessed and psychological or gender-identity investigations have not been carried out. None of these children have reached puberty, and hence decision and outcomes of definitive neophallus reconstruction has not been considered to date.

CONCLUSION

Scrotal flap phalloplasty is a minimally invasive, simple and reproducible technique used to create a temporary neophallus in boys with aphallia, while waiting for definitive reconstructive surgery after puberty.

Neo-phalloplasty in children and adolescents for acquired penile loss

INTRODUCTION

From 2000 to 2019, the De Castro's neo-phalloplasty was used in 47 patients with congenital and acquired penile loss.

PURPOSE

Herein, the technical aspects of penile reconstruction and the outcomes in 17 children and adolescents treated for total or sub-total acquired penile loss are reported.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The median age at the time of injury was 3 months (range: 2 days-15 years). Twelve patients were born with normal penis but suffered injuries (11) or underwent surgical resection of the penis (1). The remaining 5, affected by bladder exstrophy (2) or cloacal exstrophy (3), had penile loss due to surgical complications.

RESULTS

The median age at the time of surgery was 5 years (range: 2-20 years). The median length of the procedure was 5 h (range 4-8 h). Skin expander were inserted in preparation of phalloplasty in 9 patients. Corpora-cavernosa remnants were found and incorporated in the neophallus in 12 patients. In 7 patients, urethral remnants were also incorporated into the repair, placing the meatus at the tip of the neophallus. In the remaining patients the urethra was left in the acquired position after penile loss creating a perineal (2), scrotal (3), peno-scrotal (3), or posterior penile (1) urethrostomy. The first patient of this series was the only patient to receive simultaneously phalloplasty and total urethroplasty, with failure of urethral reconstruction. The median follow-up was 2 years (range 1-11 years). The overall complication rate was about 47%. All of the complications were late and required surgical revision. The results were assessed regarding overall functionality (voiding, erection/erogenous areas, masturbation/sexual intercourse) and aesthetic outcome using subjective and objective parameters. Psychological evaluation for both patient and parents was performed in 4 cases.

DISCUSSION

There are no specific guidelines for treating significant penile injuries in the pediatric population. We do not think secondary severe penile impairments should wait until adult age for repair. In this specific subgroup of patients technical aspects differ from phalloplasty done for congenital aphallia, due to the possible presence of corpora-cavernosa/urethral remnants and the feasibility to perform a "functional phalloplasty" with very encouraging results.

CONCLUSION

The De Castro's neo-phalloplasty remains one of the few techniques available for total penile reconstruction in pediatric age group. Data demonstrate that this technique for acquired aphallia is feasible and reproducible, however, it is a challenging procedure with a high complication rate and likelihood of revisions.

Aphallia: a review to standardize management

Congenital aphallia is a rare anomaly with little supporting literature and controversial management. The aim of this review is to assess the most recent literature with a focus on staged management of these cases. We performed a PubMed search of all English literature in the past 10 years using the term aphallia. Twenty-three articles were identified of which six were excluded. A further three papers meeting our criteria were found in the references to papers initially identified. We found that management can be staged in three phases: short, intermediate and long-term. We conclude that optimal short-term management centers on resuscitation and urinary diversion as necessary, intermediate-term management entails urethrorectal fistula division, urethrostomy and neophallus creation and long-term management results in successful neophalloplasty, urethroplasty, prosthetic implant and continued protection of the upper urinary tracts with a Mitrofanoff. All this within a multidisciplinary team ensuring shared decision-making with the patient and their family.