To determine patient satisfaction with testicular prostheses (TP) for testicular cancer. Reconstruction represents an important part of surgical oncology, yet placement of TP following orchiectomy is infrequently performed.
Improved data on patient satisfaction with TP would help in counseling patients with testicular cancer.
Forty patients who underwent orchiectomy and TP placement for testicular cancer participated in a survey that was blinded to the providers in an outpatient clinic (2012-2014) to evaluate TP satisfaction. Categorical variables associated with satisfaction were compared using the Fischer's Exact Test.
Median age at TP placement was 31 years (17-59). Most patients had their prosthesis in place for >1 year (81%) at the time of survey. No patient reported complications from the TP and none underwent explantation. All patients felt that being offered an implant prior to orchiectomy was important. Overall, 33 patients (82.5%) rated the TP as good or excellent, and 35 men (87.5%) would have the prosthesis implanted again. Thirty-seven patients (92.5%) found the TP to be comfortable or very comfortable. However, 44% considered the TP too firm and 20% felt the position was not appropriate. Appropriate size, appropriate position, and TP comfort were significantly associated with good or excellent overall TP satisfaction (p<0.05).
Overall satisfaction with testicular implants after orchiectomy for testicular cancer is high. Patients should be offered a testicular prosthesis, especially at the time of orchiectomy. Efforts should be made to optimize implant firmness, and care should be given to proper size selection and positioning.
Go Beyond the Abstract and Read a Commentary by the Author
Urology. 2017 Dec 27 [Epub ahead of print]
Thomas G Clifford, Madeleine L Burg, Brian Hu, Jeffrey Loh-Doyle, Cory M Hugen, Jie Cai, Hooman Djaladat, Kevin Wayne, Siamak Daneshmand
USC Institute of Urology, USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California., Department of Urology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, California., USC Institute of Urology, USC/Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California. Electronic address: .