Male urogenital surgery

Preputial surgery

Many preputial wounds will need eventual surgery. This may be sharp debridement and primary closure but more often this is reconstructive surgery. There are two main options for preputial reconstruction : reefing (circumcision) and amputation. These surgeries are essentially the same as rectal prolapse surgery; reefing is essentially submucosal resection while amputation is similar in both. Vaginoplasty would also equate to reefing.

Preputial resection

Preputial resection is preferred over preputial amputation when possible. It is only possible when the penis can be extended and exteriorized. With the penis extended, the damaged area of prepuce is removed by making a circumferential incision around each side of the damage. These are connected by a longitudinal incision and then peeled off the underlying layers. The two circumferential incisions are then reanastomosed, taking care to not twist the penis and prepuce while doing so.

Preputial amputation

Preputial amputation is performed when the penis cannot be exteriorized. After placement of overlapping sutures 360º around the healthy prepuce to control bleeding, the distal prepuce is transected and the cut edges anastomosed. It may be helpful to cut a “v” incision in to the circle to avoid cicatrix formation. These do tend to stricture, regardless. For breeding purposes, a prepuce length of at least 1.5-2x as long as the free portion of the penis.

Resources (google at your own risk)

Medical and Surgical Management of Conditions of the Penis and Prepuce, 2024 VCNA

Penile and preputial problems in the bull, MS Gill

Surgical procedures in the bovine, start at page 13

License

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Large Animal Surgery - Supplemental Notes Copyright © by Erin Malone, DVM, PhD is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License, except where otherwise noted.