Penile self-harm: a case report and concise clinical review
- Resource Type
- Authors
- James Donaldson; Mutie Raslan; Justine Royle
- Source
- Scandinavian journal of urology. 49(4)
- Subject
- Adult
Male
medicine.medical_specialty
Urology
Foreskin
Preputial gland
Poison control
Physical examination
medicine
Humans
Sex organ
Glans
Fasciitis
Depressive Disorder
medicine.diagnostic_test
business.industry
medicine.disease
Surgery
medicine.anatomical_structure
Circumcision, Male
Nephrology
Penile injury
Self Mutilation
business
Self-Injurious Behavior
Penis
- Language
- ISSN
- 2168-1813
Male genital self-mutilation is extremely rare and may be associated with severe psychopathology. This study reports the case of a 26-year-old man who presented after incising his prepuce with a knife and placing a rubber band around his foreskin. A plastic ring was also found underneath the prepuce. Clinical examination revealed a lateral preputial laceration with gross preputial oedema and dark red discoloration with a clear demarcation where the elastic band had been placed. A pelvic X-ray revealed no other foreign bodies. Following 72 h of observation he developed signs of preputial necrosis, which prompted urgent circumcision; this revealed a healthy underlying glans. In conclusion, male genital self-harm requires urgent urological and psychiatric assessments to prevent surgical and psychiatric sequelae including necrotizing fasciitis and suicide.