What is Penis Curvature (Cordi)?

The penis is an organ that should stand straight during erection. However, sometimes the penis can be bent to the front, back, sides or it can be around itself in the form of a screw. This condition is usually congenital and may accompany the disease we call Hypospadias or it may be alone. It is seen in approximately one in 200 babies.

 

Figure: Degrees of pipi curvature

How to recognize chordia?

The curvature is usually noticed during urination when the willy becomes hard. This may not be noticed much during infancy. However, when the child starts to hold his/her urine, especially when he/she urinates standing up, it is recognized by noticing that he/she urinates crookedly or urinates towards his/her feet and cannot urinate directly across.

Why does chordia occur?

Curvatures are more common in the first 6 months when the penis grows especially fast and later around the age of 6 and during puberty. The cause of this curvature may be the connective tissue under the foreskin, as well as developmental anomalies of the anatomical structures we call the corpus that provide blood supply or hardening of the penis. The cause of this curvature can sometimes be a wrong circumcision.

 

How Much Curvature of the Penis is Considered Normal?

Penis curvature can be seen in every man up to 20 degrees down, up, right and left. Penile curvatures up to 20 degrees are considered normal and do not require treatment as they do not impair sexual function.

What are the conditions that require treatment for chordia?

• Curvature over 20 degrees
• Causes pain
• Shortness of the penis

How is chordia treated?

The only treatment for penile curvature is surgery. However, the curvature of the penis is expected to be more than 20-30 degrees for surgery. The decision for surgery must be made together with an experienced Pediatric Surgery doctor.

How is Cordial Surgery Performed?

The surgery is performed in the operating room and under general anesthesia. The child is put to sleep and the penile skin is first peeled off the penis and unnecessary ligaments are removed. The degree and location of the curvature is determined with an artificial erection test. Permanent sutures in the form of pleats are then placed opposite the maximum curvature of the penis.

The pleats should not disrupt the symmetry of the penis, should not shorten the penis excessively and should be placed away from the nerves and vessels. For this reason, this surgery must be performed by experienced people.

 

When Should Cordial Surgery Be Performed?

As with circumcision, penile curvature surgeries are performed either between the ages of 0-2 or later between the ages of 5-8.

Can Cordi recur after surgery?

Recurrence of penile curvature after surgery is very rare, especially in children. However, depending on the degree of this curvature, a second surgery may be required.

*** The information provided here, the content of the website is organized for the purpose of informing the visitor. No information should be considered as advice by visitors and should not lead to any decision or action. Families should have their patient examined by a pediatric surgeon, consult with him/her and make a decision by consulting his/her knowledge.