Electrophysiological evaluation of alterations in penile sensation due to penile prosthesis implantation in patients with erectile dysfunction.
Level 4 - case-series / case-control
Prospective single-arm pre-post observational study without a separate control group
PubMed 39186443 · doi:10.1016/j.ajur.2021.04.013
What was done
A prospective single-center study evaluated changes in penile sensation in 30 men with organic erectile dysfunction undergoing penile prosthesis implantation (PPI). Penile sensory electromyography (EMG) was conducted 1 day preoperatively and at 3 and 6 months postoperatively. A total of 27 patients completed follow-up: 23 received malleable prostheses, one received a two-piece inflatable prosthesis, and three received three-piece inflatable prostheses.
What was found
Mean penile sensory nerve conduction velocity (NCV) was 29.85 ± 22.54 m/s (range: 0–78.4) preoperatively, 27.64 ± 24.72 m/s (range: 0–83.3) at 3 months postoperatively, and 24.80 ± 22.31 m/s (range: 0–88.4) at 6 months postoperatively. Differences were not statistically significant comparing baseline to 3 months (p = 0.607), baseline to 6 months (p = 0.276), or 3 months to 6 months (p = 0.553).
Why it matters
This study provides objective electrophysiological evidence that penile prosthesis placement does not cause measurable long-term impairment of penile dorsal sensory nerve conduction.
Limits
The study is limited by a small sample size (n = 27), large variance in NCV measurements, lack of an unoperated control group, and follow-up limited to 6 months. Most patients received malleable implants (85.2%), limiting generalizability across different prosthesis types.
Cited by
- supports Penile prosthesis implantation does not affect penile sensation because the sensory nerves run along the dorsal aspect (12 o'clock position) of the penis.