Preputioplasty
Overview
Preputioplasty or prepuce plasty, also known as "limited dorsal slit with transverse closure", is a plastic surgical operation on the prepuce or foreskin
of the penis
, to widen a narrow non-retractile foreskin which cannot comfortably be drawn back off the head of the penis in erection because of a stenosis
which either has not relaxed during childhood and adolescence or has re-narrowed after sexual maturity.
Preputioplasty is a treatment for phimosis
in the alternative to circumcision
and radical dorsal slit
Preputioplasty may be performed by Y-plasty or Z-plasty
, techniques also used in reconstructive surgery to loosen constricting scar tissue following traumatic burns.
However, Y-plasty and Z-plasty require a degree of surgical sophistication that physicians in general practice may lack.
More commonly it simply consists of one or more very short longitudinal incisions which release the stenosis — the constricting ring of tissue — in the foreskin and are closed transversely: [|] is closed and sutured as [—].
In the alternative to suturing, "[h]aemostasis [has been successfully] performed [in children] with a heated probe using the flame of an alcohol lamp or with bipolar electrodiathermy."
Only one incision is shown in Figure 3; if two or more such incisions are made this will prevent a V-shaped indentation at the opening of the foreskin when the penis is not erect.
The opening of the foreskin is now normally wide enough for the foreskin to be easily retracted.
Foreskin
In male human anatomy, the foreskin is a generally retractable double-layered fold of skin and mucous membrane that covers the glans penis and protects the urinary meatus when the penis is not erect...
of the penis
Penis
The penis is a biological feature of male animals including both vertebrates and invertebrates...
, to widen a narrow non-retractile foreskin which cannot comfortably be drawn back off the head of the penis in erection because of a stenosis
Stenosis
A stenosis is an abnormal narrowing in a blood vessel or other tubular organ or structure.It is also sometimes called a stricture ....
which either has not relaxed during childhood and adolescence or has re-narrowed after sexual maturity.
Preputioplasty is a treatment for phimosis
Phimosis
Phimosis , from the Greek phimos ), is a condition where, in men, the foreskin cannot be fully retracted over the glans penis...
in the alternative to circumcision
Circumcision
Male circumcision is the surgical removal of some or all of the foreskin from the penis. The word "circumcision" comes from Latin and ....
and radical dorsal slit
Dorsal slit
A dorsal slit is a single incision along the upper length of the foreskin from the tip to the corona, exposing the glans without removing any tissue....
- which is conservative, non-traumatic and less invasive and can be performed on an outpatient basis under local anaesthetic in a doctor's office and
- has the advantage of healing very quickly with little or no significant cosmetic alteration to the appearance of the penis.
Preputioplasty may be performed by Y-plasty or Z-plasty
Z-plasty
Z-plasty is a plastic surgery technique that is used to improve the functional and cosmetic appearance of scars. It can elongate a contracted scar or rotate the scar tension line. The middle line of the Z-shaped incision is made along the line of greatest tension or contraction, and triangular...
, techniques also used in reconstructive surgery to loosen constricting scar tissue following traumatic burns.
However, Y-plasty and Z-plasty require a degree of surgical sophistication that physicians in general practice may lack.
More commonly it simply consists of one or more very short longitudinal incisions which release the stenosis — the constricting ring of tissue — in the foreskin and are closed transversely: [|] is closed and sutured as [—].
In the alternative to suturing, "[h]aemostasis [has been successfully] performed [in children] with a heated probe using the flame of an alcohol lamp or with bipolar electrodiathermy."
Only one incision is shown in Figure 3; if two or more such incisions are made this will prevent a V-shaped indentation at the opening of the foreskin when the penis is not erect.
The opening of the foreskin is now normally wide enough for the foreskin to be easily retracted.
