Penoscrotal Webbing, also known as Turkey Neck, refers to the skin that connects the penis to the scrotum. When the scrotum attaches to the penis too far up the shaft or next to the glands, it creates a skin web that may interfere with sexual function. The closer scrotum attaches to the tip of the penis, the more severe is the penoscrotal webbing.
What are the causes for penoscrotal webbing?
Penoscrotal webbing is usually caused by a combination of factors:
- Some men have high insertion of the scrotal skin on the penis and if this man is circumcised, the situation may be exacerbated.
- Some men have had too much skin removed during circumcision which leads to turkey neck appearance of the penoscrotal junction – thus the importance of choosing a good surgeon for a circumcision!
- Occasionally, penoscrotal webbing can occur because of scarring or fibrosis after genital surgery.
What are the symptoms of penoscrotal webbing of the penis?
- Scrotal skin riding too high on the penis
- Discomfort during or after sex
- Irritation of scrotal skin during or after sex
- Difficulty rolling condoms all the way to the base of the penis
- Condoms may slip or roll-off the penis during sex
- Makes penis appear shorter than it actually is
- Restriction in the depth of penetration
What are the factors that possibly affect penoscrotal webbing?
- Location and severity affect both the severity of symptoms and aesthetic appearance; the closer the scrotum attaches to the tip of the penis or the glans of the penis, the more severe the symptoms.
- The thickness of scrotal skin: some men have naturally thicker and rougher scrotal skin with many ruggations. Scrotal skin thickness exaggerates penoscrotal webbing.
- Men who are obese, often have a few inches of fat pad above the penis, which contributes to the short appearance of the penis and often causes buried penis.
- The availability of redundant skin on the penile shaft or the scrotum can affect the surgical approach to the correction of a penoscrotal web.
Are there any non-surgical treatments?
Penoscrotal webbing is unlikely to disappear; typically, the skin attachment is fixed and does not change.
There are no effective creams or medications that can improve the appearance or location of penoscrotal webbing. Also, stretching the skin is of dubious benefit.
What are the types of corrective surgeries?
Penoscrotal webbing requires surgery for optimal correction. There are several surgical techniques that can be used to correct penoscrotal webbing, but the most appropriate technique depends on the exact anatomy, skin redundancy and the location of the insertion of the scrotal skin on the penis.
Z-plasty is a traditional procedure used when there is a shortage of skin, but a few additional techniques may be used depending on the needs of the patient - including scrotal excision and reduction, and flap rotation.
The surgery should be tailored to every man.
Z-plasty is a traditional procedure used when there is a shortage of skin, but a few additional techniques may be used depending on the needs of the patient - including scrotal excision and reduction, and flap rotation.
The surgery should be tailored to every man.
Can this corrective surgery be done in conjunction with another?
If a patient with penoscrotal webbing desires a circumcision, penoscrotal repair should usually be performed simultaneously at the time of circumcision.
Why choose Cliniques Marois for such a surgery?
Our experienced urologists perform hundreds of complex penile and scrotal surgeries every year, including penoscrotal web repair, scrotoplasty, circumcision revision, and scrotal cyst removal.
Many men with the penoscrotal web can undergo penoscrotal web repair under local anesthesia in our clinics. Men with severe penoscrotal web and additional problems that may require general anesthesia, can be operated at Centre Métropolitain de Chirurgie – the only private hospital in Quebec, situated in Montreal.
Many men with the penoscrotal web can undergo penoscrotal web repair under local anesthesia in our clinics. Men with severe penoscrotal web and additional problems that may require general anesthesia, can be operated at Centre Métropolitain de Chirurgie – the only private hospital in Quebec, situated in Montreal.