Urology: penile fracture: practice question

A General Surgery question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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General Surgery · Urology: penile fracture

Sample item

During vigorous intercourse a man hears a snap, feels sudden pain and loses his erection. The penis is swollen, bruised and deviated to one side. What is the best management?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Prompt surgical exploration and repair of the tunical tear

Rupture of the tunica albuginea of an erect penis presents with a snap, detumescence and a swollen deviated penis (aubergine deformity). Early repair gives better outcomes than conservative treatment, which risks curvature, plaques and erectile dysfunction. Blood at the meatus suggests urethral injury and needs urethrography.

Option by option

  • A. Urethral catheter and conservative follow-up

    A catheter alone does not repair the tunical tear.

  • B. Aspiration of the corpora with intracavernosal phenylephrine

    Aspiration and phenylephrine are used for ischaemic priapism, not for a torn tunica.

  • C. Ice, analgesia and a compressive dressing with delayed review

    Conservative treatment is associated with deformity, erectile dysfunction and prolonged recovery.

  • D. Prompt surgical exploration and repair of the tunical tear (correct)

    Correct. Early exploration with repair of the tunica albuginea gives the best functional result.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More General Surgery questions

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is D, Prompt surgical exploration and repair of the tunical tear. Rupture of the tunica albuginea of an erect penis presents with a snap, detumescence and a swollen deviated penis (aubergine deformity).

Why is "Urethral catheter and conservative follow-up" not the answer?

A catheter alone does not repair the tunical tear.

Why is "Aspiration of the corpora with intracavernosal phenylephrine" not the answer?

Aspiration and phenylephrine are used for ischaemic priapism, not for a torn tunica.

Why is "Ice, analgesia and a compressive dressing with delayed review" not the answer?

Conservative treatment is associated with deformity, erectile dysfunction and prolonged recovery.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Urology: penile fracture in General Surgery. Early repair gives better outcomes than conservative treatment, which risks curvature, plaques and erectile dysfunction. Blood at the meatus suggests urethral injury and needs urethrography.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Urology: penile fracture?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.