Repair of penile prosthesis-induced impending erosion using xenograft during simultaneous inflatable penile prosthesis replacement

Abstract

Background: Penile prosthesis (PP)-induced impending erosion is a rare complication that has not been well characterized.

Aim: This study evaluates the role of prosthesis sizing and of the safety of xenograft windsock repair (AlloDerm, Tutoplast, ArthroFLEX) of impending erosion.

Methods: This was a retrospective review of xenograft use during inflatable penile prosthesis (IPP) replacement. Patient demographics, prior PP characteristics, and xenograft-augmented IPP characteristics were obtained. Paired-samples t tests were used to compare the PP cylinder size, rear tip extender size, and calculated PP length between the most recent prior PP and the xenograft-augmented IPP. Complications and follow-up data were obtained.

Outcomes: The primary outcome was comparing the corporal body and device measurements between the PP presenting with impending erosion and the implanted xenograft-augmented IPP. The secondary outcome was evaluating the incidence of subsequent explantation.

Results: A total of 24 patients underwent xenograft repair with simultaneous IPP replacement from 2012 to 2022. The median number of prior PP was 1 (interquartile range, 1-2.75). The median time between the most recent prior PP and xenograft-augmented IPP placement was 21 (interquartile range, 14-79) months. The prior PP was significantly longer at the time of explantation compared with the measured corporal body length in both the left (21.4 cm vs 20.1 cm; P < .01) and right (21.4 cm vs 20.1 cm; P < .01) sides. However, there was no significant difference in length between the xenograft-augmented IPP length at the time of implantation and measured corporal body length in both the left (20.1 cm vs 20.0 cm; P = .67) and right (20.2 cm vs 20.1 cm; P = .56) sides. A total of 16 (66.7%) cases required bilateral xenograft corporal body use. Only 1 (4.2%) patient had an IPP infection requiring explantation within 90 days of xenograft-augmented IPP placement. A total of 2 (8.3%) patients had device malfunction and 1 (4.2%) patient had impending erosion recurrence requiring removal/replacement of their initial xenograft-augmented IPP in a median time of 56 months from placement.

Clinical implications: PP oversizing may increase risk of PP-induced impending erosion, which is a delayed process.

Strengths and limitations: This is the largest retrospective study of xenograft use during IPP replacement for impending erosion but does not have a control cohort. This study is limited by its retrospective nature, limited follow-up, and absence of a treatment comparison.

Conclusion: PP-induced impending erosion may be due to PP oversizing but can be successfully repaired with xenograft windsock during simultaneous IPP replacement.

Keywords: IPP; erectile dysfunction; penile prosthesis; tissue graft; xenograft.