Penile implant surgery has a success rate of above 70%.1 However, as is with any other type of surgery, there are complications and risks attached to it. The most common side effects of the surgery are pain and swelling, which generally go away after a few weeks.
To ease the swelling and pain, your doctor will prescribe medication after the surgery and antibiotics to prevent infections. What should you do when other penile implant complications arise?
Common Penile Implant Complications
Most complications arise from procedural side effects. Here are some complications you should look out for…
Penile implant malfunction
A penile prosthesis can last for up to 20 years,2 sometimes even more, and malfunctions are very rare. Eventually, all implants wear off, depending on the frequency of usage. The more the prosthesis is used, the sooner you will need it to have it replaced.
A correctly done preoperative assessment to determine the right kind of device can prevent most malfunctions. However, if any malfunctions occur, it should be removed and replaced.
Infection
This is one of the most serious penile implant complications and usually manifests through pain around the prosthetic parts, cellulitis, and purulent drainage around the surgical area. Virgin implants have a less than 5% infection rate while for replacements its less than 15%.3
For infections on the skin, an antibiotic is prescribed but if the infection affects the functionality of the penile implant, a replacement will be necessary.
Erosion
There are instances where the prosthesis sticks to the inside of the skin of your penis, wearing it out from the inside out and in rare cases, the implant could break through the skin. Erosion often occurs if an infected implant isn’t removed on time or an oversized device is implanted.
In cases where the urethra was damaged during surgery, erosion may also occur there. To treat erosion, the implant has to be surgically removed and replaced.
Hematoma
This is postoperative bleeding around the surgical site and can sometimes cause displacement of the pump. When this happens, the pump becomes inaccessible making it difficult to activate the implant. This complication can be managed without surgery through compression dressing, scrotal elevation, bed rest, and application of ice on the affected area.
Your doctor may also prescribe antibiotics.
How to deal with penile implant complications
Most penile implant complications usually arise from the surgery and not from the device. To reduce the chances of complications, your doctor should review your medical history and do a physical and urology exam to determine if the implant would be suitable for you.
They should also determine the chances of post-surgery complications before the device is implanted. Once you start experiencing any of the above complications, seek medical attention soonest possible.
Links to sources used
- A review of surgical strategies for penile prosthesis implantation in patients with Peyronie’s disease – https://europepmc.org/article/pmc/pmc4893506
- Penile Prosthesis Implant | Stony Brook Medicine – https://www.stonybrookmedicine.edu/patientcare/urology/menshealth/penileimplants#:~:text=The%20normal%20life%20expectancy%20of,1%2D2%20times%20per%20week.
- Penile Prosthesis Infection: Myths and Realities – NCBI – https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6704299/