Phalloplasty in Female-to-Male Transsexuals by Gottlieb and Levine's Free Radial Forearm Flap Technique—A Long-Term Single-Center Experience Over More than Two Decades

Anna E. Wirthmann; Pawel Majenka; Melanie C. Kaufmann; Sascha V. Wellenbrock; Lara Kasper; Susanne Hüttinger; Gabriel Djedovic; Ahmet Bozkurt; Michael Sohn; Ulrich M. Rieger

doi:10.1055/s-0037-1608656

Journal of Reconstructive Microsurgery, Table of Contents

J Reconstr Microsurg 2018; 34(04): 235-241
DOI: 10.1055/s-0037-1608656

Original Article

Thieme Medical Publishers 333 Seventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001, USA.

Phalloplasty in Female-to-Male Transsexuals by Gottlieb and Levine's Free Radial Forearm Flap Technique—A Long-Term Single-Center Experience Over More than Two Decades

Anna E. Wirthmann

¹Department of Plastic Surgery, AGAPLESION Markus Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany

,

Pawel Majenka

¹Department of Plastic Surgery, AGAPLESION Markus Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany

,

Melanie C. Kaufmann

²Department of Urology, AGAPLESION Markus Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany

,

Sascha V. Wellenbrock

¹Department of Plastic Surgery, AGAPLESION Markus Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany

,

Lara Kasper

¹Department of Plastic Surgery, AGAPLESION Markus Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany

,

Susanne Hüttinger

¹Department of Plastic Surgery, AGAPLESION Markus Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany

,

Gabriel Djedovic

³Department of Plastic Surgery, Helios Hospital, Wuppertal, Germany

,

Ahmet Bozkurt

³Department of Plastic Surgery, Helios Hospital, Wuppertal, Germany

,

Michael Sohn

²Department of Urology, AGAPLESION Markus Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany

,

Ulrich M. Rieger

¹Department of Plastic Surgery, AGAPLESION Markus Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany

› Author Affiliations

Abstract

Background The free radial forearm flap phalloplasty is the most utilized method for penile reconstruction. Among the techniques described in the literature, evidence for the flap design after Gottlieb and Levine is poor.

Methods From January 1993 until December 2015, 402 phalloplasties were performed in our clinic. Among the 247 free radial forearm flap phalloplasties, 232 free radial forearm flap phalloplasties were performed after Gottlieb and Levine in 229 patients. Operation and patient-specific characteristics were evaluated.

Results This study presents the highest number of free radial forearm flap phalloplasties after Gottlieb and Levine. The rate of total flap failure was 3%; 46% of the patients were heavy smokers. Urinary fistulae and strictures are common. The revision rate for urinary fistulae and/or strictures was 1.3 per patient. The number of postoperative complications, such as bleeding (14.2%), thrombosis of the flap requiring revision (11.2%), or delayed wound healing (16.8%) was considering the high rate of nicotine abuse (45.9%) reasonable.

Conclusion The free radial forearm phalloplasty in the design by Gottlieb and Levine is well established at our institution and has proven safe and reliable since 1993. The operative results are satisfactory for both patients and surgeons even in the presence of relevant comorbidities and heavy smoking. We acknowledge the long ordeal and psychological pressure that our patients suffer from, before presenting in our outpatient clinic.

Keywords

smoking - Gottlieb and Levine - fistula

Full Text

References

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