Genital self-mutilation

Ann Afr Med. 2010 Jan-Mar;9(1):31-4. doi: 10.4103/1596-3519.62622.

Abstract

We present a case report of a 22-year-old Nigerian student who presented to the accident and emergency unit of a Nigerian Teaching Hospital with a history of self-inflicted genital injury following a suicide attempt. He had background history of predisposition to depressive illness, a current diagnosis of a major depressive disorder, and had had two attempted suicidal episodes in the last 3 months prior to this event. The clinical finding shows a patient with sad affect, feeling of hopelessness, and worthlessness; however, the vital signs remained fairly stable. At examination under anesthesia, the testes were exposed and the right already self-castrated. The penis was degloved to the level of the Buck's fascia with intact corpora cavernosa and urethra. He had surgical excision of the hanging self-castrated right testis with debridement and primary closure of the genital laceration. He was promptly reviewed by the psychiatrists who co-managed appropriately.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Castration / psychology*
  • Castration / rehabilitation
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / complications
  • Depressive Disorder, Major / psychology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Penis / injuries
  • Penis / surgery
  • Scrotum / injuries
  • Scrotum / surgery
  • Self Mutilation / complications
  • Self Mutilation / psychology*
  • Suicide, Attempted / psychology*
  • Testis / injuries
  • Testis / surgery
  • Treatment Outcome
  • Young Adult