Aphallia: a review to standardize management

Pediatr Surg Int. 2018 Aug;34(8):813-821. doi: 10.1007/s00383-018-4271-z. Epub 2018 Apr 20.

Abstract

Congenital aphallia is a rare anomaly with little supporting literature and controversial management. The aim of this review is to assess the most recent literature with a focus on staged management of these cases. We performed a PubMed search of all English literature in the past 10 years using the term aphallia. Twenty-three articles were identified of which six were excluded. A further three papers meeting our criteria were found in the references to papers initially identified. We found that management can be staged in three phases: short, intermediate and long-term. We conclude that optimal short-term management centers on resuscitation and urinary diversion as necessary, intermediate-term management entails urethrorectal fistula division, urethrostomy and neophallus creation and long-term management results in successful neophalloplasty, urethroplasty, prosthetic implant and continued protection of the upper urinary tracts with a Mitrofanoff. All this within a multidisciplinary team ensuring shared decision-making with the patient and their family.

Keywords: Aphallia; Neophalloplasty; Urethroplasty; Urethrorectal fistula.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Humans
  • Male
  • Penile Diseases* / congenital
  • Penile Diseases* / diagnosis
  • Penile Diseases* / surgery
  • Penis / abnormalities*
  • Penis / surgery
  • Plastic Surgery Procedures / methods*
  • Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male / methods*