Peno-scrotal soft tissue loss: a need for multidisciplinary and multimodal integration

Abstract

Aim: Scrotal soft tissue loss is a part of the challenging conditions for plastic surgeon. The non-availability of adequate nearby healthy soft tissue and its probability of frequent contamination by excretory substances make the issue of reconstruction complicated. The authors present their experience with penoscrotal soft tissue loss with hyperbaric oxygen therapy as an adjunct.

Methods: This retrospective study was undertaken in the department of plastic surgery, over a period of 2 years. Nine patients with scrotal or penile injury and infection were enrolled in the study. Age of the patients ranged 20-60 years. Five patients had traumatic loss of scrotal skin and 4 resulted following necrotizing soft tissue infection. All patients underwent hyperbaric oxygen therapy before and following surgery.

Results: Healing was complete in all patients with minor complications as partial skin graft loss in 2 patients. Five patients (55.5%) had sustained the soft tissue loss due to trauma. The cause of necrotizing fasciitis was found in 4 patients (44.4%). The mean length of hospital stay was 42.5 days.

Conclusion: Management of soft tissue loss of penoscrotal region requires an organized approach and the utilization of newer modalities for early recovery of these injuries is of primary need. Operating surgeons should know the various reconstructive pathways and use of adjunct measures like hyperbaric therapy for early recovery.

Keywords

Scrotal soft tissue loss / necrotizing fasciitis / soft tissue reconstruction / hyperbaric oxygen therapy

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