Formulas for determining the dimensions of venous graft required for penile curvature correction

Summary To evaluate the quantity of penile veins for use as patch material for the treatment of penile curvature, we devised two formulas: from the calculus of applied civil engineering and a diagram from the goniometry of the cadavers’ penises, respectively, and the techniques for their application. From March 1995 to July 2003, a total of 65 consecutive patients with penile curvature – 41 men with Peyronie's deformity and 24 with congenital penile deviations – underwent grafting with autologous deep dorsal veins with or without cavernosal veins as patch material. The patched veins required were calculated from the formula πr2θ/45°, which is derived from calculus. The tunical incision sector was meticulously performed in accordance with our diagram which is interpolated from seven male cadavers via goniometry and consequently the length of patched veins required was 2πrθ′/θ. The corporotomy defect was fashioned with the detubularized veins after they were adequately prepared and spliced. In these patients, the average available area of the veins was 4.9 × 2.2 cm2 (range, 4.5 × 1.8 to 5.6 × 2.4), which seemed adequate in all cases for patching, although 11 of them required two patches. Overall, 21 patients required a modified Nesbit's procedure on the contralateral/ipsilateral tunica to attain a satisfactory penile shape. Because of its anatomical vicinity and its availability as material, the deep dorsal vein associated with the cavernosal vein may play an indispensable role in grafting even with local anaesthesia on an outpatient basis.