Self-inflicted gunshot injury to the external genitalia: a case report and review of literature

Abstract

Background: Gunshot wounds of the external genitalia are rare. Rarer still are civilian self-inflicted gunshot wounds of the external genitalia. The protocol for the management of gunshot wounds of the penis especially with respect to urethral injuries is not fully established. Case presentation: We present a 27-year-old male undergraduate student, who accidentally shot himself in the penis. He sustained American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) grades IV to V injuries to the penis, scrotum and left testes. He was managed in a multistage, multi-disciplinary fashion including staged buccal mucosal graft repair of 4 cm proximal penile urethral defect with satisfactory cosmetic and functional outcome. Conclusions: Excellent functional and cosmetic results may be obtained after severe penetrating trauma to the external genitalia even in low resource centres in the hands of non-reconstructive urologists. Buccal mucosal graft is a viable option for two stage reconstruction of the urethra.