Subjective patient-reported experiences after surgery for Peyronie's disease: corporeal plication versus plaque incision with vein graft.

Objectives: To compare patient-perceived outcomes of corporeal plication to plaque incision with saphenous vein grafting for the correction of Peyronie's disease.

Methods: Patients with stable Peyronie's disease deemed to be good operative candidates for both tunical plication and plaque incision with saphenous vein graft were counseled on both procedures and chose which operation they would undergo. At 1 year, the records were reviewed and the patients were contacted. The variables included age, operative time, and outcome ("satisfactorily straight," loss of rigidity, loss of sensation, new use of erectile aids, ability to have intercourse, palpable nodules, erectile pain, penile shortening, and being "completely satisfied").

Results: Of the 67 patients, 35 underwent tunical plication and 32 underwent plaque incision with vein grafting. No differences were present in patient age between the two groups. The average operative time was shorter for the plication group (P = 0.0001). No differences were found regarding satisfactory straightness (P = 0.13), satisfaction with the operation (P = 0.71), new use of erectile aids (P = 0.06), erectile pain (P = 0.12), or subjective penile shortening (P = 0.41). Patients who underwent plaque incision with grafting were more likely to experience loss of rigidity (P = 0.03), inability to have intercourse (P = 0.05), and loss of sensation (P = 0.0045). Patients who underwent plication were more likely to experience palpable nodules (P = 0.03).

Conclusions: The results of our study have shown that both procedures are effective surgical options for the correction of Peyronie's disease. Plication is a simple procedure with less morbidity. Shortening is a common complaint, regardless of the type of operation done.