Infla10® Pulse™Also Known As
Penile Size Preservation, Penile Length Restoration Techniques, Penile Dimension Maintenance, Penile Length Conservation, Penile Size Optimization
Definition
Penile Length Preservation refers to a comprehensive set of techniques and protocols implemented before, during, and after penile prosthesis surgery to maintain or restore penile length in patients undergoing prosthetic implantation.1 These techniques aim to combat the common patient complaint of perceived penile shortening following prosthesis placement, which can negatively impact patient satisfaction and psychological well-being.2 The preservation methods include preoperative protocols (such as vacuum or traction therapy), intraoperative surgical techniques (including modified dilation approaches, specialized incisions, and grafting procedures), and postoperative management strategies, all designed to maximize the functional and aesthetic outcomes of penile prosthesis surgery.3,4
Clinical Context
Penile Length Preservation techniques are clinically indicated in patients undergoing penile prosthesis implantation who are at risk for, or concerned about, postoperative penile shortening.1 This is particularly relevant for patients with severe erectile dysfunction, Peyronie’s disease, post-prostatectomy erectile dysfunction, or those with a history of priapism, where corporal fibrosis and tunical scarring may limit the elasticity of the tunica albuginea.2
Patient selection criteria include those with documented or perceived penile shortening prior to implantation, patients with conditions predisposing to penile shortening, and those expressing significant concern about potential length loss.3 The surgical approach varies based on the specific preservation technique selected, but generally involves modifications to standard implantation procedures.
Preoperative protocols may include vacuum erection device (VED) therapy or penile traction therapy for 2-4 months prior to surgery, which has been shown to increase stretched penile length by an average of 1.5 cm.4 Intraoperative techniques include cavernosal sparing and channeling without dilation, subcoronal incision with circumferential penile degloving, the sliding technique, modified sliding technique, multiple-slit technique, and tunical expansion procedures.2
Expected outcomes vary by technique, with postoperative penile length recovery averaging around 3 cm (range 0-4.0 cm).2 Patient satisfaction is generally high when appropriate expectations are set preoperatively and when the implanting surgeon adopts a combination of strategies individualized to the patient’s specific needs.4