Man, 68, forced to have part of his penis amputated after it became gangrene from using a sex aid ‘for too long’
An American man had the head of his penis cut off after wearing an erection-enhancing sex ring for an entire day.
Doctors treating the 68-year-old in this horrific case had to remove layers of dead tissue, but discovered that the tip could not be saved and had to be removed.
For the first time in the world, the doctor used part of the man’s thigh to reconstruct parts of his penis.
The anonymous patient told doctors at the University of California’s urology department that he was wearing the ring. The ring strengthens the erection by keeping blood in the genitals for about 24 hours.
Unable to free it from his swollen member by hand, he tried to pry it loose with a pair of pliers.
Doctors treating the 68-year-old were forced to remove layers of dead tissue in the horrific case, but discovered the tip was beyond saving and had to be removed
In photos too gruesome to show in full, doctors were forced to peel away the gangrenous penis flesh left over from the sex aid
Some websites have a thriving marketplace for metal cock rings from as little as £7.99. This example comes from Etsy
But the shocking thing is that he only sought medical help a week later, after he started having problems urinating.
Documenting the operation in the diary Urology Case ReportsAccording to doctors, the man’s penis was abnormally purple in color upon admission, with blister-like yellow spots on the skin.
The man, who was homeless, was initially discharged to a nursing home after having a catheter inserted to help him urinate. It appeared that he had not suffered any more serious damage from his failed sexual escapade.
However, two weeks later he returned, his entire penis having turned black and gangrenous.
This indicated that the member had become necrotic and that the tissue itself had died as the blood supply had been cut off by the extended attachment of the tight ring.
Doctors gave the man broad-spectrum antibiotics to prevent further gangrene and, in photos too gruesome to show, began cutting away the dead penis flesh.
Using scalpels and surgical scissors, doctors cut away the dead tissue layer by layer until they found living, healthy tissue deep within the body, closer to the core.
However, they discovered that the glans, the medical term for the head of the penis, could not be saved and had to be removed completely. Medics then dressed the peeled penis to allow it to heal.
After a week of recovery, the man was examined again and dead tissue was removed, after which doctors focused on penile reconstruction.
They removed a 3-by-5-inch piece of skin from his right thigh and then transplanted it onto the peeled core of the patient’s penis.
Doctors reported that the man remained stable after the surgery and that a new catheter, inserted through his abdomen to help him urinate, rather than through his penis, was working well.
When discussing the case, doctors said that cases of penile strangulation by sex rings are a rare but serious emergency with potentially serious consequences for a patient.
“Penile strangulation by a constricting ring is a urologic emergency requiring immediate removal to prevent vascular damage and subsequent necrosis, as well as acute urinary retention,” they wrote.
‘The treatment of these patients poses a clinical challenge, as the urologist in his institution has the necessary tools to remove the stenosed device.’
Ultimately, doctors replaced the dead penile tissue they had removed with a graft of skin taken from the patient’s thigh
Doctors have previously been forced to use metal instruments directly on men’s genitals in an attempt to free a patient’s member from the iron grip of the rings
Doctors say that when used safely, penis rings can help men with erectile dysfunction alongside other treatments. However, they stress that men should talk to their doctor first, not only for safety reasons, but because impotence can also be a potential warning sign of serious health problems such as diabetes, heart disease or prostate cancer.
They added that, to their knowledge, their case was the first time that a patient suffering from penile strangulation by a ring was treated with surgical skin grafting from his thigh.
Doctors also said the patient would be followed further to evaluate the long-term results of the surgery.
British doctors have long warned about the dangers of sex rings made from hard materials such as metal, and have urged men not to use them.
The devices, available online for as little as £3, contract the flesh around the penis, trapping blood in the genitals.
This can help men maintain their erections for longer. Some fans claim that the gadgets also make their penis bigger and increase sexual pleasure.
But they are not without risks. They can get stuck — and thus strangle the penis by depriving it of life-giving oxygen-rich blood.
Not only can this lead to an embarrassing trip to the emergency room, but it can also cause parts of the penis to die from lack of oxygen if not treated quickly enough.
This can cause irreparable damage within 30 minutes.
In rare cases, a man may need to undergo partial or complete amputation of his limb, requiring extensive reconstructive surgery.
Doctors warn against using rings made of hard materials, such as metal. These are less elastic and can therefore get stuck more easily.
Rings made of less sturdy material, such as rubber, on the other hand, can easily be cut in an emergency.
Doctors have in the past been forced to use drills directly on men’s genitals in an attempt to free a patient’s member from the device’s vice-like grip.
In a horrifying clip circulating online, medics say had to use an angle grinder and then a bolt cutter to help a patient in such conditions.
It appears the man’s dangerously swollen member escaped unscathed from the heavy machinery used to free it.
An obvious but unavoidable risk with such major removals is that the penis itself can be damaged during the procedure.
Online retailers sell dozens of toy rings made from different materials.
Stainless steel versions, available in a range of sizes, start from just £3.29 and come in diameters up to 2 inches.
Advertisements claim they are ‘great for extending the life of your erection’ and ‘helping you last longer in bed’.
Others promise to increase the pleasure of both men and their partners by providing “more intense orgasms” and “stimulation.”
Sex shops also sell variants where men are advised to also slide their testicles through.
However, experts warn that this is particularly dangerous as it can also strangle the testicles.
Another important factor that determines the outcome of such cases is how long a man waits to seek medical attention if a ring gets stuck.
There have been cases of men who have waited for hours before seeking medical attention, out of shame or embarrassment, resulting in a worse outcome than if they had gone straight to the emergency room.
Although there is no official data on the number of incidents involving penis rings in the UK, the most recent official NHS data shows that 15 emergency penile amputations were performed in England between April 2022 and March 2023.
Doctors say that when used safely, penis rings can help men with erectile dysfunction when used in conjunction with other treatments.
However, they stress that men should talk to their doctor first, not only for safety reasons, but also because impotence can be a potential warning sign of serious health problems such as diabetes, heart disease or prostate cancer.