A case of penile self‐mutilation during a suicidal attempt successfully treated using a multidisciplinary approach

Abstract

Introduction Penile self‐mutilation is predominantly associated with psychiatric disorders and rarely occurs during suicide attempts by men with depressive mood disorders. Herein, we have reported a case of penile self‐mutilation by a patient with depression. Case presentation A 63‐year‐old man with a 20‐year treatment history of depression presented to our hospital an hour after cutting his penile shaft during a suicide attempt. Hemostasis was achieved by urologists, and his psychiatric condition was evaluated by psychiatrists. The patient and his family hoped for penile replantation. His mood disorders were controllable, and microscopic replantation was performed by plastic surgeons after multidisciplinary discussion. The patient recovered, urinated without any signs of urinary stricture, showed no progression of depression, and did not repeat the mutilation. Conclusion Penile self‐mutilation during suicide attempts is a rare urological emergency that requires multidisciplinary management involving urologists, psychiatrists, and plastic surgeons.

Keywords

• depression
• microscopic reconstruction
• multidisciplinary approach
• penile self‐mutilation
• psychiatric disorders