Penile prosthesis implantation is currently the most effective treatment for men with severe erectile dysfunction who do not respond to medication or who cannot take it. Despite the high effectiveness of this procedure, many patients wonder about the device’s long-term reliability and whether they can maintain a good quality of life many years after surgery. To answer these questions, our researchers analyzed the long-term outcomes of 51 men who underwent implantation of a three-component hydraulic penile prosthesis at our center.
Patients were followed for a median of more than 17 years, making this study one of the longest ever published in the literature on this topic. The objective was to evaluate not only the mechanical survival of the device but also its use over time and its impact on quality of life. To do so, a questionnaire specifically developed for penile implant users was used, capable of measuring functional, relational, personal, and social aspects.
The results demonstrated the device’s remarkable long-term reliability. Ten years after surgery, 86% of the prostheses were still functioning; at 20 years, more than half of the devices were still in use. Furthermore, 62% of patients continued to use the prosthesis regularly even two decades after implantation. Another particularly significant finding concerns patient satisfaction. Among those who continued to use the device, quality-of-life scores were very high in all areas assessed: sexual function, relationship with their partner, self-esteem, and social life.
These results confirm that penile implants can provide lasting benefits not only from a mechanical standpoint but also psychologically and in terms of relationships. The complications observed over the years have been relatively limited, and the main cause of surgical revision was found to be mechanical malfunction of the device—an expected outcome given the long duration of follow-up.
The clinical implications of this study are significant. When discussing the option of a penile prosthesis with a patient suffering from severe erectile dysfunction, it is essential to be able to provide realistic information about the reliability of the implant and the expected long-term outcomes. Our data show that penile prostheses represent a reliable and long-lasting solution, capable of maintaining high levels of satisfaction and quality of life even more than twenty years after surgery.
Chierigo F, Capogrosso P, Dehò F, Pozzi E, Schifano N, Belladelli F, Montorsi F, Salonia A.Long-Term Follow-Up After Penile Prosthesis Implantation—Survival and Quality of Life Outcomes. J Sex Med. 2019;16(11):1827-1833. doi:10.1016/j.jsxm.2019.08.001.
