Penile Injuries In Lagos State University Teaching Hospital Ikeja: A 7-year Experience

Abstract

Background: Injuries to the penis are not frequent events and usually not life threatening. However, they may be associated with significant  long term psychological and functional impairment. This study elucidates the clinical spectrum of penile injuries in the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital and how they were managed.
Methods: This was a 7-year retzrospective study of all cases of penile injury managed in the Urology unit of a teaching hospital in South West Nigeria; between February 2006 and January 2012.
Results: There were 50 cases of penile injury, with the age range between 4 weeks to 49 years and an average age of 12.1 years. Circumcision and sex-related causes accounted for 76% and 18% of the injuries respectively, while occupation and ritual-related causes accounted for 2% each. Urethro-cutaneous fistula (n=22, 44%), penile fracture (n=9, 18%) and penile amputation (n=5,10%) were the commonest injury types. All the cases were managed operatively.

Coculusion: Circumcision was the leading cause of penile injury in this study. Mass education of all categories of circumcisers on safe circumcision practices would be desirable.