What is it about?

This infographic explains the critical role of the tunica albuginea, the tough fibrous outer layer that surrounds the erectile chambers of the penis. The Normal Role: It shows how a healthy, strong tunica acts as a protective "shield," providing structural integrity and containing the pressure of an erection. The Implant Risk: It illustrates the complication of prosthesis extrusion. This happens when a penile implant (cylinders placed inside the penis for ED) exerts too much pressure on the tunica, causing it to thin, weaken, and potentially allow the implant to break through the tissue.

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Why is it important?

Preventing Complications: Extrusion is a devastating complication that usually requires removing the implant. Understanding the limits of the tunica's strength is vital to preventing this. Surgical Guidance: It emphasizes that surgeons must carefully measure and select the correctly sized implant. Oversizing an implant might seem like a good idea for girth, but it dangerously increases the risk of eroding through the natural biological shield. Patient Awareness: It helps patients understand the anatomical risks involved in implant surgery and the importance of choosing a skilled surgeon who respects tissue integrity.

Perspectives

The Surgeon's View: "Respect the tunica." This anatomy dictates the limit of what can be safely implanted. A successful surgery is a balance between providing rigidity and ensuring the long-term integrity of the surrounding tissue. The Patient's View: It highlights that bigger isn't always better with implants. A properly sized device that stays inside the body safely is far better than an oversized one that causes a medical emergency later.

Professor Geng-Long Hsu
Microsurgical Potency Reconstruction and Research Center, Hsu’s Andrology

Read the Original

This page is a summary of: Anatomy and Strength of the Tunica Albuginea: Its Relevance to Penile Prosthesis Extrusion, The Journal of Urology, May 1994, Wolters Kluwer Health,
DOI: 10.1016/s0022-5347(17)35214-x.
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