Traumatic high flow priapism in a child - the role of Colour Doppler Ultrasound and gelfoam embolotherapy for effective management.

Post-traumatic priapism in the paediatric population poses a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge. Cavernous blood sampling is not well tolerated, and diagnostic uncertainty hinders management decisions. We present the use of Colour Doppler Ultrasound (CDU) to provide a definitive diagnosis of high-flow priapism and identification of an embolisation target which was then successfully embolised with gelfoam slurry with no clinical recurrence or complications at 6 months. Penile CDU is a reliable tool to diagnose arteriocavernous fistulae in children. Although conservative management remains first choice, safe and effective treatment of high-flow priapism in children can be achieved with gelfoam embolisation and identification of an embolisation target can aid the decision-making process.