Paraphimosis (patient information)

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Paraphimosis

Overview

What are the symptoms?

What are the causes?

Who is at highest risk?

When to seek urgent medical care?

Diagnosis

Treatment options

Where to find medical care for Paraphimosis?

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

Possible complications

Prevention

Paraphimosis On the Web

Ongoing Trials at Clinical Trials.gov

Images of Paraphimosis

Videos on Paraphimosis

FDA on Paraphimosis

CDC on Paraphimosis

Paraphimosis in the news

Blogs on Paraphimosis

Directions to Hospitals Treating Paraphimosis

Risk calculators and risk factors for Paraphimosis

For the WikiDoc page for this topic, click here

Editors-in-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. Associate Editor-In-Chief: Ujjwal Rastogi, MBBS [1]

Overview

Paraphimosis occurs when the foreskin of an uncircumcised male cannot be pulled back over the head of the penis.

What are the symptoms of Paraphimosis?

The foreskin is pulled back (retracted) behind the rounded tip of the penis (glans) and stays there. The retracted foreskin and glans become swollen. This makes it difficult to return the foreskin to its extended position.

Symptoms include:

  • Inability to pull the retracted foreskin over the head of the penis
  • Painful swelling at the end of the penis
  • Pain in the penis

What causes Paraphimosis?

Causes of paraphimosis include:

  • Direct trauma to the area
  • Failure to return the foreskin to its normal location after urination or washing (most common in hospitals and nursing homes)
  • Infection, which may be due to poor personal hygiene
  • Uncircumcised males, and those who may not have been correctly or completely circumcised, are at risk.

Who is at highest risk?

Paraphimosis occurs most often in children and the elderly.

When to seek urgent medical care?

Go to your local emergency room if this occurs.

Diagnosis

A physical examination confirms the diagnosis. The health care provider will usually find a "doughnut" around the shaft near the head of the penis (glans).

Treatment options

Pressing on (compression of) the head of the penis while pushing the foreskin forward may reduce the swelling due to paraphimosis. If this fails, prompt surgical circumcision will be needed.

Where to find medical care for Paraphimosis?

Directions to Hospitals Treating Paraphimosis

What to expect (Outlook/Prognosis)?

The outcome is likely to be excellent if the condition is diagnosed and treated quickly.

Possible complications

If paraphimosis is left untreated, it can disrupt blood flow to the tip of the penis. In extreme (and rare) cases, this may lead to:

  • Damage to the penis tip
  • Gangrene
  • Loss of the penis tip

Prevention

Circumcision, when done correctly, prevents this condition.

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