Citation

Waseem M, Upadhyay R, Kapoor R, Agyare S. Int. J. Emerg. Med. 2013; 6(1): 32.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2013, Holtzbrinck Springer Nature Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1186/1865-1380-6-32

PMID

23941195

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Fracture of penis is an uncommon injury presenting to the Emergency Department (ED). Personal embarrassment and social scenarios associated with this condition may result in underreporting. Patients often delay seeking medical attention and even when they do, as in our case report, they may withhold the condition for a significant time. ED Physicians need to be aware of the social inhibitions and the need for early diagnosis and prompt treatment. A delay in treatment increases the risk of complications such as ischemia, necrosis and penile deformity.Fracture of penis is caused by rupture of tunica albuginea of one or both corpora cavernosa by a blunt trauma to the erect penis. Diagnosis is usually clinical as evident by the characteristic history and clinical presentation. Diagnostic modalities aid in the management of the fracture and associated injuries if present. But promptness in the recognition and initiation of treatment can significantly reduce the chances of post injury complications. FINDINGS: We present a case of penile fracture in a young male who presented to the ED with abdominal pain but careful history and physical examination revealed penile fracture. A delay in diagnosis could have led to complications. CONCLUSION: Our case report is an attempt to emphasize the need to suspect injury to penis in a young adult who might present to the Emergency Department with an entirely different complaint and also to treat any penile trauma as an emergency. This report provides an evidence of an uncommon and underreported clinical entity. A review of pertinent literature is included.

Language: en