Metoidioplasty With Implantation of a Specific Semirigid Prosthesis

[Genital gender affirming surgery in trans men]

OBJECTIVE

Genital surgery for masculinisation in the context of gender incongruence is characterised by the reconstruction of male genitalia using multiple surgical techniques - free flap phalloplasty, pedicled flap phalloplasty or metaoidioplasty - which this article aims to describe.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A narrative review of the literature on these trans surgeries was carried out.

RESULTS

Each technique has specific advantages and disadvantages, and does not produce the same results in terms of surgical risks, size of the reconstructed phallus, sensitivity, sexual function and urinary function.

CONCLUSION

This surgical decision must therefore be shared with the person concerned, based on a clear understanding of their expectations and objectives. Long-term follow-up is recommended.

Secondary phallic prosthesis placement in transgender patients postmetoidioplasty: a case report on technique and outcome

Introduction

Gender affirming surgery is common among transgender and gender-nonconforming individuals. Genital gender-affirming surgery is a form of surgery that involves transformation and reconstruction of the genitalia while maintaining urologic and sexual function. Masculinizing genital gender-affirming surgery can involve the removal of the female genital and reproductive organs and the creation of a more masculine appearance by using phalloplasty or metoidioplasty techniques. While metoidioplasty has advantages such as limited scarring and preserved genital sensation and clitoral erection, it may not always guarantee the ability to void while standing or even penetrate a sexual partner.

Aim

To describe our method of secondary phallic enhancement after metoidioplasty with a phallic prosthesis.

Methods

Our case is based on a 39-year-old transgender male who underwent metoidioplasty with vaginectomy, scrotoplasty, and urethral lengthening. However, the original surgery was complicated by extensive hematoma formation in the suprapubic area and neoscrotum, leading to a buried position of the neophallus. Subsequent surgery was performed to reduce the prepubic fat pad and penoscrotal interposition, but it too was complicated by hematoma formation and wound dehiscence. To maximize phallic elongation, the tethering urethra was removed, and perineal urethrostomy was performed but could not sufficiently alleviate the buried phallus. As a further step to improve the outcome, we proposed the implantation of a specific phallic prosthesis designed for metoidioplasty with testicular prosthesis placement. Surgery was performed as a single procedure through a penoscrotal incision and greatly enhanced genital appearance.

Results

Three months after surgery, the patient had good sensation of the phallus and was able to have satisfactory sexual activity with his partner. However, he remained dissatisfied with the amount of prepubic tissue and opted to undergo further liposuction.

Conclusion

Phallic prosthesis implantation can be a procedure to improve the condition of multioperated cases of metoidioplasty with resistant phallic burying. Reconstruction with a phallic prosthesis was performed successfully in this case. However, long-term complications and functional outcomes, such as the ability to void while standing or penetrate a sexual partner, remain uncertain. Further experience is needed to determine the efficacy and safety of using a phallic prosthesis as a secondary procedure in patients undergoing metoidioplasty.

Are transgender people satisfied with their lives?

BACKGROUND

Our goal was to examine the proportion of transgender people satisfied with their lives (i.e., cognitive evaluation of life as a whole) and the determinants of life satisfaction level among transgender individuals.

METHODS

Data were taken from the HH-TPCHIGV study. Included were 104 transgender people who had joined self-help groups to get and share information about the gender-affirming surgeries performed at the Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery at the University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf. The established Satisfaction with Life Scale was used to quantify life satisfaction. Sociodemographic-, lifestyle-related and health-related determinants were included in multiple linear regressions. In regression analysis, life satisfaction served as outcome measure and in a robustness check ordered probit regressions were used.

RESULTS

Among transgender people, 12.9% can be classified as "extremely dissatisfied", 18.3% can be classified as "dissatisfied", 12.9% can be classified as "slightly dissatisfied", 7.5% as "neutral", 30.1% as "slightly satisfied", 17.2% as "satisfied" and 1.1% as "extremely satisfied". Higher levels of life satisfaction were associated with higher age (β = .15, p < .05), higher school education (β = 5.54, p < .001), and favorable self-rated health (β = 2.20, p < .001).

CONCLUSIONS

Nearly half of the transgender people were at least "satisfied" with their lives. Knowledge about the correlates of life satisfaction may assist in addressing unsatisfied individuals.

Determining the outcomes of urethral construction in phalloplasty

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the surgical and functional outcomes of urethral reconstruction associated with phalloplasty, depending on the surgical techniques and patient history.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We conducted a single-centre retrospective study including 89 patients who underwent phalloplasty with urethral reconstruction between 2007 and 2018. Patients included were trans-male patients undergoing gender-affirming surgery and cis-male patients undergoing penile reconstruction after trauma, congenital malformation, or cancer. Urethral reconstructions were performed by free flap or skin graft (total or thin). Secondary urethroplasty may include direct vision urethrotomy, excision-anastomosis, or augmentation urethroplasty (skin graft, buccal mucosa graft). Patient demographics, medical history, peri- and postoperative data were collected from patient files. Functional results were evaluated using individual questionnaires.

RESULTS

The mean (±sd) follow-up duration was 5.5 (±3.7) years. No significant difference was found for total urethral complication rate (fistula and/or stricture) according to type of urethral construction (70.9% for free flap urethra vs 73.5% for skin graft urethra; P = 0.911), nor according to the patient's grounds for surgery (72.7% for cis-male vs 71.8% for trans-male patients; P = 1). A total of 36 patients (40.5%) answered the functional questionnaire, of whom 80.5% reported usually voiding while standing and 47.5% were comfortable with urinating in public.

CONCLUSIONS

Urethral construction in phalloplasty is associated with a high complication and revision rate regardless of the type of urethral reconstruction. Voiding in a standing position is generally possible but should not conceal feeble functional results.

Penile Prosthesis in Transgender Men after Phalloplasty

A penile prosthesis can be successfully implanted after phalloplasty in transgender men to permit sexual intercourse. A prosthesis can be categorized as malleable or inflatable. The most common penile prosthesis implanted after masculinizing genital surgery is the inflatable prosthesis but this can be a challenging operation with high complication rates. Penile prosthesis in transgender patients differs from cis-patients in many respects but one critical difference is the absence of the tough, protective tunica of the corporal body to contain the prosthesis. This causes greater mobility of the prosthesis under the skin and increases the risk of migration and erosion of the device through the skin. In addition, to overcome the absence of a corpora cavernosa, the proximal portion of the prosthesis must be anchored to bone. Complications include injury to the urethra, vascular injury, skin breakdown, infection, device migration, device failure, extrusion, and erosion. There is no robust data on the use of penile prosthesis in transgender men with only multiple reports of small numbers of patients. While successful implantation can improve patients' quality of life, surgeons should counsel patients about the relatively high risk of the need for revision surgery.

Surgical satisfaction and quality of life outcomes reported by transgender men and women at least one year post gender-affirming surgery: A systematic literature review

BACKGROUND

Many transgender women and men undergo gender-affirming surgeries. Existing work shows that early surgery outcomes are generally positive, suggesting high surgical satisfaction and positive quality of life outcomes. Less work, however, examines these outcomes in the longer-term.

AIMS

To conduct a systematic literature review into the longer-term (i.e., ≥ 1 year) surgical satisfaction and quality of outcomes following various forms of gender-affirming surgery in transgender populations. Specifically, we aim to examine research on such outcomes at least one-year post gender-affirming chest, genital, facial, vocal cord, and Adam's apple removal surgeries.

METHODS

Studies were identified through Google Scholar, PsycINFO, Scopus, and PubMed databases, as well as through Google Scholar search alerts. We considered all studies published until October 2021. Two reviewers extracted data from suitable studies using Covidence. Both reviewers also independently assessed the identified studies' risk of bias and strength of evidence.

RESULTS

Seventy-nine low quality (e.g., small sample sizes, lack of control/comparison groups) studies suggest that most transgender patients are satisfied with surgical outcomes when assessed at least one-year post-surgery. Low quality research also indicates that transgender women and men typically report positive psychological and sexual wellbeing post-surgery, and similar wellbeing outcomes as those who have not had surgery.

DISCUSSION

To the best of our knowledge, this literature review is the first to critically summarize and evaluate all published studies on the longer-term quality of life outcomes following chest, genital, facial, voice and Adam's apple removal surgeries for transgender women and men. While the results suggest promising surgical satisfaction and quality of life outcomes following surgery, many studies only draw on small samples, and most studies do not allow for causal conclusions. Further, few studies have compared surgical outcomes between transgender women and men. We conclude by offering concrete suggestions for future research.

Masculinizing gender-affirming surgery for trans men and non-binary individuals: what you should know

Gender dysphoria, the discordance between one's gender identity and anatomy, affects nearly 25 million people worldwide, and the prevalence of transgender and non-binary identities is increasing because of greater acceptance and awareness. Because of the improved accessibility to gender-affirming surgery (GAS), many providers will care for patients during and after gender transition. For trans men (female-to-male), GAS represents a combination of procedures rather than a single surgery. The particular combination of masculinizing procedures is chosen on the basis of informed patient-provider discussions regarding the patient's goals and anatomy and implemented through a multidisciplinary team approach. In this review, we describe the common procedures comprising masculinizing GAS to improve delivery of specialized care for this patient population.