Penile fracture: epidemiological, diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic aspects at the Yalgado Ouédraogo university teaching hospital

Abstract Background Penile fracture is a rare urological emergency involving a traumatic rupture of the tunica albuginea of the corpora cavernosa. This study aims to describe the epidemiological, diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic aspects of this condition at a university teaching hospital in Burkina Faso. Patients and methods A descriptive retrospective study was conducted over 3 years (2021–2023) at the Yalgado Ouédraogo University Teaching Hospital (CHU-YO). Data from 19 patients managed for a confirmed penile fracture were collected from clinical files, operative registers, and via telephone interviews. Data were analyzed using Epi Info 7.2.1 and Excel software. Results The mean annual incidence was 6.3 cases. The mean patient age was 34.16 years. The main mechanism was a coital misstep (73.68%). The mean time to consultation was 12.95 h. Diagnosis was purely clinical in all cases. All patients underwent immediate surgical repair. Early postoperative complications (surgical site infection) were rare (10.52%). Long-term, 89.47% of patients had normal erectile function (IIEF-6 score ≥ 26). Conclusion Penile fracture, although rare, is a recognized entity in Burkina Faso. Early surgical treatment, based on reliable clinical diagnosis, offers excellent functional outcomes and a low complication rate, confirming its position as the therapeutic gold standard.