VSR 421: Regional Veterinary Surgery (2+1)

ACQUIRED CONDITIONS

• Fracture of os penis may rarely result from severe penile trauma. The condition may be characterized by dysuria, haematuria and abnormal mobility with crepitation when the os penis is palpated.
• Radiography may help to ascertain the type of fracture and decide the type of treatment. Minimally displaced fractures may be treated conservatively and need not be immobilized.
• Surgical or non surgical immobilization as mentioned above may be attempted in displaced fractures. Fractures associated with severe penile trauma may have to undergo partial penile amputation.

Wounds

• Wounds of the penis may result from fighting, jumping of fences, automobile accidents and mating. Penile wounds have a tendency to bleed profusely.
• Superficial wounds may be treated conservatively by cleaning with mild antiseptics and application of emollient antibacterial preparations followed by the use of systemic antibiotics. If bleeding is severe, arterial bleeding may be controlled by ligation and bleeding from the cavernous spaces may be controlled by suturing the tunica albugenia.
• The penis should be inspected carefully for urethral damage. Mild cases of urethral damage may be treated by catheterization for 7 days. In cases in which there is severe damage or transaction of the urethra, urethral suturing followed by catheterization for 7 to 10 days may be done. Penile erection may have to be prevented by sedating the animal. A severely damaged penis should be partially amputated.

Strangulation

• Strangulation of the penis may result from malicious or accidental application of rubber band on the penis of dogs or the accumulation of hair around the penis.
• The affected animal may show dysuria, pain, constant licking at the site and signs of necrosis of the cranial end of the penis. The penis may be saved in cases when the condition is diagnosed early and timely removal of the strangulating material is possible.
• In cases where strangulation was severe or prolonged enough to cause gangrene of the penis amputation of the affected part may be performed.

Penile tumors

• Penile tumours are rare in cats but transmissible venereal tumour (TVT), papilloma and squamous cell carcinoma are common in dogs. Clinial signs and treatment vary depending on the location, extent and type of tumour.
• TVT is never treated surgically. Even extensive cases of TVT respond favourably to appropriate chemotherapy. Other types of tumours may have to be excised when small or require penile amputation when the penis is extensively involved.
• Destruction of papillomas by electrocautery may provide complete cure. It has been found that cauterization of a few papilloma nodules can cause the destruction of the remaining in a few days or weeks due to a possible immune mediated response.