Rupture of the corpora cavernosa. Report of 50 cases

The authors report a series of 50 cases of rupture of the corpora cavernosa observed over a 20-year period. The patients had a mean age of 27 years (16-55 years). The commonest mechanism was sudden and forced manipulation of the erect penis (31 cases). The diagnosis is simple in view of the stereotyped clinical features, dominated by penile pain (48 cases), penile haematoma (36 cases) and crackling (25 cases). All patients were treated surgically, with evacuation of the haematoma and suture of the tunica albuginea (48 cases), suture of the corpora cavernosa and corpus spongiosum (1 case), and fascia lata corporoplasty (1 case). A favourable course was observed in 30 cases, while II patients presented painful erection, and 9 patients developed induration and deviation of the penis.