Penile Skin Bridge: Uncommon Cause of Painful Spontaneous Erection in Young Males

Abstract

Erection is a neurovascular response to visual, emotional, and tactile stimuli. It is classified as psychogenic, reflexogenic, and nocturnal. The causes of painful erections are Peyronie’s disease, penile fracture, penile tumours, penile lichen sclerosis, and a rare disorder called sleep-related painful erection syndrome. Here, the authors report six cases of painful spontaneous erection due to penile skin bridges in young males, seen between 2021–2023. They analysed the age, clinical features, treatment offered, and outcome at 3 months post-surgery. Patients’ mean age was 20.5 years (range: 13–35 years), and the haemoglobin genotype was AA. Two males had associated yellowish discharges under the skin bridges. They all had excision of the skin bridges with satisfactory post-operative appearance, and no pain with erection. Penile skin bridge is an uncommon cause of painful penile erection, and the authors recommend that all general practitioners be aware of this entity, and keep it in mind during a thorough physical examination.