Patient-reported long-term sexual outcomes following plication surgery for penile curvature: A retrospective 58-patient study.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate long-term sexual function results following plication surgery for the correction of penile curvature using patient questionnaires.

METHODS

We performed a single-center, retrospective study in a cohort of patients with Peyronie's disease or congenital penile curvature. All patients who underwent plication surgery on the convex aspect using the Nesbit, Yachia or diamond-shaped techniques were included. At a mean 34 months after the interventions, the patients were asked to respond to the IIEF5 questionnaire and a 19-item questionnaire.

RESULTS

Forty-six patients operated for Peyronie's disease and 12 for congenital curvature (total: 58) were included in the study. The questionnaire response rate was 69% (40/58). The shortened penis bothered 47.5% of patients in their sexuality at least regularly. Involuntary exit from the vagina occurred for 35% of the patients in at least one out of two sexual intercourse sessions. Postoperative sexual life was as good as or better than preoperative sexual life for 35% of the patients and 95% stated that they could achieve erection at least sometimes, in coherence with the mean IIEF5 result of 19.3/25.

CONCLUSION

Our study suggests that even when successful, a relatively high rate of patients may be unsatisfied with the results of plication surgery, and there may be a relatively low rate of maintenance or improvement of postoperative sexual life. Furthermore, our in-house questionnaire, although not validated, shed light on how bothersome the loss of penis length is in postoperative sexuality, an aspect the IIEF5 and its sole evaluation of erectile quality cannot detect.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 4.