【Abstract】 Objective To explore the effect of early scrotal dermatoplasty on spermatogenic functional rehabilitation of testis in juvenile pigs with third degree burn wound of the scrotum. Methods Thirty healthy male Guizhou miniature pigs (weighing 10-15 kg, 2-month-old) were divided into 3 groups: control group (group A, n=10), natural healing group (group B, n=10), and dermatoplasty group (group C, n=10). In group A, the pig was not given any treatment; after third degree burn model of the scrotum was prepared, wounds were not treated in group B and the burn skin was excised and whole hypogastric pachydermia was used for dermatoplasty in group C. At 3 months and 1 year after model preparation, bilateral testis were collected from 5 pigs, respectively. HE staining was performed to observe the effects of different repair method on the morphology of spermatogenic cells and immunohistochemical staining was used to detect Survivin protein expression. Results All pigs survived to the end of the experiment and the wound healed successfully. Histological observation showed that spermatogenic cells had normal shape at all stages and mature sperms were seen in lumens in group A; the thickness of seminiferous epithelium was thinner, having one layer or two layers of spermatogenic cells in group B; the spermatogenic cells in group C were slightly more than that in group B with some spermatids; and in groups B and C, the spermatogenic cells at 1 year were more than that at 3 months. Immunohistochemistry staining showed that the Survivin protein expression in groups B and C was less than in group A, and group B was less than group C, showing significant differences at 3 months and 1 year (P lt; 0.05), but no significant difference between 3 months and 1 year in the same group (P gt; 0.05). Conclusion Dermatoplasty has inhibitory effect on spermatogenic functional rehabilitation of testis. Dermatoplasty can decrease spermatogenic cells and reduce Survivin protein expression, but some spermatids still survive in seminiferous tubule.
Objective To summarize the effect of free skin graft for repairing scrotal avulsion injury, and to investigate the repair impact of the method on spermatogenesis. Methods Between June 2001 and June 2010, 8 cases of complete avulsion injury of the scrotal skin were treated with the free skin graft, aged 22 to 64 years (mean, 29 years). The causes of injury included machine twisting in 4 cases, animal attack in 3 cases, and traffic accident in 1 case. The time between injury and hospital ization was 1-7 hours (mean, 3.5 hours). Five cases compl icated by avulsion of penile skin, 3 by perineal lacerationwith exposure of testes and spermatic cord, and 1 by avulsion of leg skin. Results After 10 days, 80% to 95% grafted skinsurvived. The reconstructed scrotum had shrinks and the wound healed by first intention after dressing change. Eight patients were followed up 12 to 24 months (mean, 16 months). At last follow-up, the patients had relaxed and droop scrotum, and penile erection was normal. Semen qual ity analysis showed: semen volume of 2-6 mL (mean, 4.2 mL); complete l iquefaction with l iquefaction time of 15-30 minutes (mean, 23 minutes); sperm density of (12-27) × 106/mL (mean, 16 × 106/mL); sperm motil ity of 45%-65% (mean, 56%); and sperm motil ity (grade A) of 25%-42% (mean, 32%). Conclusion Complete avulsion of the scrotal skin can be repaired by free skin graft, which has no significant effect on spermatogenesis.
Objective To investigate the effect of scrotal septum vascular pedicle flap with two wing-l ike spl itthickness skin graft in reconstructing urethra in patients with hypospadias and in reducing the compl ications. Methods From January 2007 to March 2008, 30 cases of hypospadias were treated, with a median age of 10 years (2-20 years). There were 13 cases of proximal shaft type, 12 cases of penoscrotal type and 5 cases of scrotal type. There were 8 cases with operation history. The flap size ranged from 4.0 cm × 0.8 cm to 9.0 cm × 1.0 cm and 5 mm with two wing-l ike spl it-thickness skin graft.When the downward curvature corrected, length of the flap could be determined by the length of the urethra that neededto be reconstructed. Results All flaps survived. The incision healed by first intention in all patients except one whose incision healed after change dressing because of frequent erection. Incision at donor site healed well. Eighteen patients were followed up for 6-12 months, including 8 with second operation history. The reconstructed urethras were unobstructed and no urethrostenosis or urinary fistula happened. Conclusion This is an improved technique of the scrotal septum flap in urethra reconstruction. It takes advantages of both flap and spl it-thickness skin graft in reconstructing urethra and avoides the disadvantages of a single tissue. It is a good choice for treating hypospadias whose urinary meatus locates neighborly to penoscrotal junctional zone.
Objective To investigate a method of repairing hypospadias by combining buccal mucosal graft with scrotal flap and its therapeutic effect. Methods From March 2002 to December 2007, 42 patients with hypospadias underwent primary urethral reconstruction using buccal mucosal graft and scrotal flap. The patients ranged in age from 18 months to 18 years. There were 21 cases of penoscrotal type, 12 cases of scrotal type and 9 cases of perineal type. Among them,8 cases were at initial operation, and 34 cases suffered from the failure of hypospadias repair 6-19 months (average 10 months) after initial operation. During operation, the defect of urethra was 3-7 cm (average 4.2 cm) when the penis was straightened; the buccal mucosa (3.0 cm × 1.2 cm-7.0 cm × 1.5 cm) was transplanted to the tunica albuginea in the ventral aspect of the penis, and was paired with the scrotal flap (3.0 cm × 1.5 cm-7.0 cm × 1.5 cm) to repair urethra. Results The incision of 38 cases healed by first intention, and no compl ication occurred. At 7 days after operation, 4 cases had urinary fistula at either coronary sulcus or anastomotic stoma, one of which spontaneously closed 2 months after operation and the rest 3 recovered by repairing urinary fistula 6 months after operation. All patients were followed for 3-48 months (average 18 months). Urination was smooth, the reconstructed urethral opening was at the tip of glans peins without retraction and with apperance similar to the normal urethral opening. The appearance of penis and scrotum was satisfying, and the penis was straightened completely. Conclusion Combined buccal mucosal graft and scrotal flap, with considerable tissue for uretha tract reconstruction and low incidence rate of urethral stricture, is one of the effective methods to repair hypospadias.
Objective To investigate the therapeutic effect of pedicled scrotal septal flap urethroplasty on longsegment posterior urethral stricture and to assess its appl ication value. Methods From January 2003 to December 2007, 24 patients (age range, 6-54 years old) with long-segment urethral stricture underwent pedicled scrotal septal flap urethroplasty.The duration of the disease was 1-5 years. The stricture was caused by traumatic urethral injury or disruption in 22 cases,postoperative compl ication of suprapubic transvesical prostatectomy in 1 case, and recurrent urethral infection due to long-term indwell ing urinary catheter in 1 case. Urethroscopy or cystourethrography examination confirmed that all cases had urethral stricture 2.0-5.5 cm in length. Eleven cases were compl icated with urethral false passage, 6 with urethral fistula, 2 with intestinal fistula, and 6 with erectile dysfunction. The result of excretion urography of bilateral upper urinary tracts was negative in all cases. Pedicled scrotal septal flap 2.5 cm × 2.0 cm-6.5 cm × 2.5 cm in size was harvested during operation, and urethroplasty was performed. Results Volume of blood loss during operation was 100-500 mL (average 270 mL). The operative time was 90-220 minutes (average 135 minutes). All flaps survived. All wounds healed by first intention. All patients had normal urination after operation. Over the follow-up period of 12-36 months (average 18.6 months), 1 of the 24 patients suffered from urinary incontinence, 2 from urethral stricture, 1 from urethral stricture and urethral fistula, and 1 from urethral diverticulum around the distal anastomosis. Those patients got normal urination after symptomatic treatment. No urethral stone, urinary incontinence, and new case of erectile dysfunction occurred. The maximum urinary flow rate 16 months after operation was 14-21 mL/s (average 17.6 mL/s). Voiding cystourethrography 22 months after operation showed unblocked urinary tract and no formation of stricture and fistula. Conclusion Pedicled scrotal septal flap urethroplasty, featured by simple operative method, easy flap harvest, and high survival rate of flap, is one of safe and effective methods for treating long-segment posterior urethral stricture.
To explore the effect of burying testis in inguinal pocket on spermatogenesis. Methods Sixty New Zealand rabbits of 6-8 months old included 36 males and 24 females, weighing 2.5-2.7 kg. The male rabbits were randomly divided into the experimental group (n=18)and the control group (n=18). The model of repairing skin defect of scrotum were establ ished by burying testes in inguinal region subcutaneously in the experimental group. The rabbits were not treated in the control group. The sperms were collected and the surface temperature of testis was measured in both groups after 8 weeks. Testes biopsies were harvested from 6 rabbits of 2 groups randomly respectively. The apoptosis of spermatogeniccells was detected with TUNEL. The other 12 male rabbits in two groups were fed respectively with female rabbits to observe the fertil ity. Results The semen density and the spermid activity ratio were (237.3 ± 39.7) × 109/L and 76.9% ± 3.8% in the control group, and were (4.7 ± 2.7) × 109/L and 0 in the experimental group respectively; showing statistically significant difference between two groups (P lt; 0.05). The average superficial temperature of testes was (38.02 ± 0.36)℃ in the experimental group and (36.15 ± 0.64) in the control group (P lt; 0.05). TUNEL results showed: The spermatogenic epithel ium became thin and obvious apoptotic spermatogenic cells were found in experimental group; the spermatogenic epithel ium was normal and few apoptotic spermatogenic cells were found in the control group. The apoptotic index (AI) was 89.69% ± 3.76% in the experimental group and 7.73% ± 4.95% in the control group (P lt; 0.05). The Pairing results showed that the female rabbits pairing with male rabbits of the experimental group were all not pregnant, and those of the control group were all pregnant (P lt; 0.05). Conclusion As the same as the scrotum was reconstructed with skin flaps, it will induce the rabbit infertil ity that the testes were buried in inguinal region subcutaneously to repair defect of scrotum skin. The main reason is the excessive apoptosis of spermatogenic cell by the high testes environmental temperature.
Objective To introduce a modified penile elongation method and observe its postoperative compl ications. Methods From January 1993 to December 2007, 130 patients with congenital short and small penis were divided into 2 groups: the routine group and the modified group, with 65 patients in each group. In the routine group, the patients were 18-55 years old (39.6 on average), and the penile length during erection was (4.9 ± 1.4) cm. In the modified group, the patients were 20-56 years old (35.4 on average), and the penile length during erection was (5.0 ± 1.5) cm. There was no significant difference between the two groups (P gt; 0.05). On the basis of scrotal flap which was transferred to cover the prolonged cavernous body of penis, the “+” shaped incision at the root of the penis was made in the routine group, and theincision was shifted upward by 1.5 cm in the modified group. And V-Y incision was made for the penises with more than 4 cm prolonged length. In order to compare the conditions in the two groups, no physical therapy was appl ied in 30 days after the operation. Results All the 130 patients’ incisions obtainedt heal ing by the firs intention, and all flaps survived successfully. Postoperative hydrophallus appeared differently between both groups. In the routine group, obvious hydrophallus appeared on the 3rd day after the operation and lasted for (15.11 ± 2.71) days, with 3 cases (4.62%) suffering from refractory hydrophallus. In the modified group, hydrophallus appeared on the 3rd day after the operation and lasted for (6.65 ± 0.29) days without any refractory hydrophallus. There was significant difference between the two groups in the duration of hydrophallus (P lt; 0.05). All patients were followed up for 6-8 months. After the operation, the shape and function of the penis were found good. The prolonged length was (4.9 ± 1.4) cm in the routine group and (5.0 ± 1.5) cm in the modified group. There was no significant difference between the two groups (P gt; 0.05). The satisfaction rate (according to the patients’ self-rating) was 95% and 98% in the routine group and the modified group, respectively. Conclusion The method using the scrotal flap transferred to cover the prolonged cavernous body of the penis is safe and of low compl ication rate. The modified method is more effective to abate postoperative hydrophallus.