RUPTURE OF THE CORPORA CAVERNOSA - REPORT OF 50 CASES

The authors report a series of 50 cases of rupture of the corpora cave rnosa observed over a 20-year period. The patients had a mean age of 2 7 years (16-55 years). The commonest mechanism was sudden and forced m anipulation of the erect penis (31 cases). The diagnosis is simple in view of the stereotyped clinical features, dominated by penile pain (4 8 cases), penile haematoma (36 cases) and crackling (25 cases). All pa tients were treated surgically, with evacuation of the haematoma and s uture of the tunica albuginea (48 cases), suture of the corpora cavern osa and corpus spongiosum (1 case), and fascia lata corporoplasty (1 c ase). A favourable course was observed in 30 cases, while II patients presented painful erection, and 9 patients developed induration and de viation of the penis.