Degloving and skin realignments or dorsal dartous flap technique in management of isolated penile torsion in pediatrics

الملخص EN

Objective : to evaluate the proper technique used for management of penile torsion in pediatrics in relation to degree of torsion.

Patients and methods : from February 2008 to December 2010, 54 patients were assessed for the degree of penile torsion at pediatric surgery center at Al-Khansaa Teaching Hospital in Mosul.

The angle of torsion was assessed using a digital photograph of the penis and classified into three grades, Mild with 15-30 degree angle of torsion, moderate with 45-90 degree angle of torsion and sever with 100-170 degree angle of torsion.

Two techniques were used for repairing the torsion, the degloving and skin realignment technique for the mild condition and dorsal dartous flap technique for the moderate and severe types.

All operations were done as a day case procedure.

No catheter used.

Results : Forty five patients (83 %) were discovered accidentally while assessing for circumcision or other problems, 30 patients (55 %) were in the first year of life, 50 patients (93 %) have a counter clock wise direction of torsion (to the left) while only 4 patients (7 %) have a clockwise direction (to the right).

Thirty five patients (65 %) classified as mild torsion, while 16 patients (29.5 %) have moderate degree of torsion and only 3 patients (5.5 %) severe degree.

Degloving and realignment of skin were used for the mild condition in 35 patients (65 %) while dorsal dartous flap technique was confined for moderate (29.5 %) and both procedures used for severe type patients (5.5 %).

Conclusion : simple realignment technique during circumcision was enough to manage the mild degree, while in severe degree, dorsal dartous flap rotation seems to be more effective.

There were no complications, and good cosmetic results were obtained.