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Metoidioplasty Journal Articles

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Metoidioplasty

NEW: Assessment of Neophallus Length Following Metoidioplasty
Hannah Glick, Michael Tang, Stephanie Daignault-Newton, Miriam Hadj-Moussa. Translational Andrology and Urology, Vol 12, No 9. September 30, 2023.
Patients considering metoidioplasty often wonder how large their neophallus will be. We found that patients can expect exposed neophallus length to be about 0.6 cm longer than their pre-operative stretched clitoral length. No evidence of association of time on testosterone nor BMI with exposed neophallus length was found.

A Narrative Review of Outcomes Following Metoidioplasty: Complications and Satisfaction. [FULL TEXT]
Alireza Hamidian Jahromi, Ari M. Spellman, Sydney Horen, Edward E. Cherullo, Amir H. Dorafshar, Loren S. Schechter. Plast Aesthet Res, Special Issue Gender Confirmation Surgery: Risk Factors and Complications, June 2022;9:41.
While satisfaction with this procedure is high, complications can occur. This narrative review discusses postoperative outcomes, including both satisfaction and complications. Published data on complications include fistula and stricture rates from 0%-50% and 0%-63%, respectively. Overall satisfaction with appearance ranges from 48%-100%, and patient ability to void while standing ranges from 67%-100%. Metoidioplasty is a safe and effective procedure for transgender men.

Technical Refinements to Extended Metoidioplasty without Urethral Lengthening: Surgical Technique [FULL TEXT]
Morrison, Shane D. MD, MS; Morris, Martin P. MBE; Mokken, Sterre E. BSc; Buncamper, Marlon E. MD, PhD; Özer, Müjde MD. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery - Global Open: February 2022 - Volume 10 - Issue 2 - p e4101.
The purpose of this article is to discuss refinements in metoidioplasty to improve phallic length and utilize local adipose tissue to add bulk to the scrotum and mimic testis.

Ring Flap Metoidioplasty
Alysen Demzik, Liem Snyder, Solomon Hayon, Mang Chen, Bradley D. Figler. Urology, Volume 158, December 2021, Page 243.
In a ring flap metoidioplasty, the urethra is created from bilateral anteriorly based labia minora and vestibular flaps. This technique is combined with Ghent scrotoplasty, vaginectomy (distal mucosal excision and proximal mucosal fulguration followed by cavity closure) and perineal masculinization. Suprapubic tube is placed for urinary diversion. To avoid disrupting the anteriorly based urethral pedicles, we do not perform monsplasty, division of the suspensory ligament, or resection of the labial folds adjacent to the penis at the time of ring flap metoidioplasty. Typically, resection of labial folds adjacent to the penis and testicular prosthesis insertion are performed 4-6 months after metoidioplasty.

Metoidioplasty: Surgical Options and Outcomes in 813 Cases [FULL TEXT]
Noemi Bordas, Borko Stojanovic, Marta Bizic, Arpad Szanto and Miroslav L. Djordjevic. Front. Endocrinol., 13 October 2021.
Metoidioplasty has good cosmetic and functional outcomes, with low complication rate and high level of patients' satisfaction. In transmen who request total phalloplasty after metoidioplasty, all available phalloplasty techniques are feasible.

Optimization of Second-stage Metoidioplasty
Nkiruka Odeluga, Soumya A Reddy, Michael H Safir, Curtis N Crane, Richard A. Santucci. Urology, June 2021.
Metoidioplasty generally requires a planned second-stage to place testes prostheses, address complications, and perform additional surgical steps to maximally lengthen the phallus. We found that phallus length can be optimized in the second-stage by applying surgical principles already established in the surgical treatment of adult acquired buried penis. Escutcheonectomy/penile lift, placement of scrotal implants, repair of chordee, and upper scrotal blocking tissue reduction are procedures that are often performed during a second-stage metoidioplasty.

A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Metoidioplasty Surgical Technique and Outcomes [FULL TEXT]
Divya Jolly, MS Catherine A. Wu, BS Elizabeth R. Boskey, PhD, MPH Amir H. Taghinia, MD David A. Diamond, MD Oren Ganor, MD. Sexual Medicine, Vol 9, Issue 1, February, 2021.
A systematic review and meta-analysis of surgical techniques and physician- and patient-reported outcomes of gender-affirming clitoral release and metoidioplasty.

NEW: The Role of Androgens in Clitorophallus Development and Possible Applications to Transgender Patients [FULL TEXT]
Frances Grimstad, Elizabeth R. Boskey, Amir Taghinia, Carlos R. Estrada, Oren Ganor. Andrology, Volume 9, Issue 6 (Special Issue: Transgender Health), April 2021.
There is mixed evidence about the use of exogenous testosterone to affect the size and function of the clitorophallus. Where people desire changes to their clitorophallus to affirm their gender identity, there are several options. Androgens can be used to enlarge the clitorophallus. Surgical modifications can be used to change both its size and function. Additional research is needed to understand which if any post-pubertal hormonal therapies are superior in achieving clitorophallus enlargement in transmasculine individuals with minimal prior androgen exposure.

Metoidioplasty using labial advancement flaps for urethroplasty [FULL TEXT]
Toby R. Meltzer, Nick O. Esmonde. Plast Aesthet Res. 2020;7:61.10.20517/2347-9264.2020.122
A variation of the ring metoidioplasty has been performed for masculinizing transgender surgery by the senior surgeon since 2010. It does not require buccal grafts or vaginal wall flaps. An excisional vaginectomy was completed in all patients. We sought to evaluate the urologic outcomes and complications for this technique. Further, we provide a detailed technical description of the technique, including ancillary masculinizing procedures.

Metoidioplasty as a one-stage phallic reconstruction in transmen [FULL TEXT]
Bizic M, Stojanovic B, Bencic M, Bordas N, Djordjevic M. Plast Aesthet Res 2020;7:43.
This narrative review aims to evaluate all available techniques of metoidioplasty and to report the postoperative results and complications.

Masculinizing genital gender-affirming surgery: metoidioplasty and urethral lengthening.
Kocjancic E, Acar O, Talamini S, Schechter L. Int J Impot Res. 2020 Mar 19.
A review of the literature regarding masculinizing gender-affirming genital surgery in the form of metoidioplasty, focusing on the steps related to urethral lengthening and reconstruction, and describe the authors' preferred surgical technique. Metoidioplasty can be offered to transgender men with sufficiently hypertrophied clitoris who wish to avoid a complicated, multistage, flap-based total phalloplasty, or for those individuals considering phalloplasty at a later date.

A Systematic Review of Metoidioplasty and Radial Forearm Flap Phalloplasty in Female-to-male Transgender Genital Reconstruction: Is the Ideal Neophallus an Achievable Goal?
Frey, Jordan D. MD; Poudrier, Grace BA; Chiodo, Michael V. MD; Hazen, Alexes MD. Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, December 2016 - Volume 4 - Issue 12.
The complex anatomy and function of the native penis is difficult to surgically replicate. Metoidioplasty and radial forearm flap phalloplasty (RFFP) are the 2 most commonly utilized procedures for transgender neophallus construction. Although the current literature suggests that metoidioplasty is more likely to yield an "ideal" neophallus compared with RFFP, any conclusion is severely limited by the low quality of available evidence.

Penile Improvement Protocol in Postoperative Management of Patients Undergoing Metoidioplasty.
Cohanzad S. Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2016 Dec;40(6):947-953.
This study introduces a postoperative traction protocol to optimize the final size of the penis in patients undergoing metoidioplasty. Fourteen patients who had undergone metoidioplasty entered a penile improvement protocol (PIP) using a penile traction device. All patients achieved an increase in their penile length with a mean of 28.42 mm (21-47 ± 6.86).

Extensive Metoidioplasty as a Technique Capable of Creating a Compatible Analogue to a Natural Penis in Female Transsexuals.
Cohanzad S., Aesthetic Plast Surg. 2016 Feb;40(1):130-8.
Postoperatively all ten patients achieved a mean penile length of 8.7 (6-12) cm and 7/10 (70 %) were capable of obtaining erection, rigid enough for intromission. No significant postoperative complications were observed. Metoidioplasty in association with traction could result in a natural-looking, erotically fully sensate and functional penis in majority of FTM transsexuals undergoing this procedure.

The Role of Clitoral Anatomy in Female to Male Sex Reassignment Surgery [FULL TEXT]
Vojkan Vukadinovic, Borko Stojanovic, Marko Majstorovic, and Aleksandar Milosevic.
The Scientific World Journal, Volume 2014 (2014), Article ID 437378, 7 pages
Accurate knowledge of the clitoral anatomy, relations, and neurovascular supply is crucial for achieving a successful outcome. Release of all anatomical layers of suspensory ligaments, followed by precise dissection of short urethral plate, is necessary for a complete straightening and lengthening of the clitoris. Preservation of the neurovascular supply, as well as dorsal aspect of the glans, is essential in maintaining sexual function.

Comparison of Two Different Methods for Urethral Lengthening in Female to Male (Metoidioplasty) Surgery.
Djordjevic ML, Bizic MR. J Sex Med. 2013 Feb 27. doi: 10.1111/jsm.12108. Also see: Article Review

Metoidioplasty as a single stage sex reassignment surgery in female transsexuals: Belgrade experience.
Djordjevic ML, Stanojevic D, Bizic M, Kojovic V, Majstorovic M, Vujovic S, Milosevic A, Korac G, Perovic SV. J Sex Med. 2009 May;6(5):1306-13. Epub 2009 Oct 27.
Metoidioplasty is a single-stage and time-saving procedure that can be employed as an alternative to total phalloplasty in FTM transsexuals, or as a first step in cases where additional augmentation phalloplasty is required.

Labial ring flap: a new flap for metaidoioplasty in female-to-male transsexuals.
Takamatsu A, Harashina T. J Plast Reconstr Aesthet Surg. 2009 Mar;62(3):318-25. Epub 2009 Jan 24.
This new technique uses all the labia minora skin incorporated with the anterior vaginal flap for urethral lengthening. The clitoral chordee is also released by this procedure.

Long-term outcome of metaidoioplasty in 70 female-to-male transsexuals.
Hage JJ, van Turnhout AA.Ann Plast Surg. 2006 Sep;57(3):312-6.
While metaidoioplasty is a method of choice in selected patients, the procedure cannot usually be completed in one step. Phalloplasty is feasible subsequent to metaidoioplasty.

FEATURED - Metoidioplasty: a variant of phalloplasty in female transsexuals
S.V. Perovic, M.L. Djordjevic. BJU International, Volume 92, Issue 9, pages 981-985, December 2003
Metoidioplasty is a technique for creating a neophallus from an enlarged clitoris in female to male transsexuals.

FEATURED - Beginnings of Sex Reassignment Surgery in Japan
Takamatsu Ako, M.D., Harashina Takao, M.D., Inoue Yoshiharu, M.D., Kinoshita Katsuyuki, M.D., Ishihara Osamu, M.D., Uchijima Yutaka, M.D., Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Gynecology, Urology, Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical School, Japan. The International Journal of Transgenderism, Volume 5, Number 1, January - March 2001.

Metaidoioplasty: an alternative phalloplasty technique in transsexuals.
Hage JJ. Plast Reconstr Surg. 1996 Jan;97(1):161-7.
Metaidoioplasty uses the clitoris, overdeveloped by hormonal treatment, to construct a microphallus in a way comparable to the correction of chordae and lengthening of urethra in cases of severe hypospadias.

Vaginectomy

Outcomes of Transperineal Gender-Affirming Vaginectomy and Colpocleisis.
Hougen HY, Dugi DD 3rd, Berli JU, Sajadi KP. Female Pelvic Med Reconstr Surg. 2020 Mar 19.
This is a large series studying the outcomes of gender-affirming vaginectomy by complete mucosal excision approach in the literature. Perioperative complications were low: 2 blood transfusions, 1 pelvic hematoma, and 1 C. diff. infection of the colon. No urethral fistulae to the vaginal space, mucoceles, or visceral injures were seen with a median follow-up of 7.7 months. Operative time decreased overtime such that after approximately 20 cases, the procedure fairly consistently takes 2 to 2.5 hours to perform.

Vaginal Colpectomy in Transgender Men: A Retrospective Cohort Study on Surgical Procedure and Outcomes.
Nikkels C, van Trotsenburg M, Huirne J, Bouman MB, de Leeuw R, van Mello N, Ronkes B, Groenman F. J Sex Med. 2019 Jun;16(6):924-933.
Colpectomy, removal of the vaginal epithelium, may be performed in transgender men because of a disturbed male self-image, to reduce vaginal discharge, or to reduce the risk of fistula formation at the urethral-neourethral junction in future phalloplasty or metaidoioplasty. This single-center retrospective cohort study included 143 transgender men who underwent vaginal colpectomy between January 2006 and April 2018. Vaginal colpectomy is a procedure with a high complication rate, but its advantages seem to outweigh its disadvantages. In all but 1 case, no long-term sequelae were reported. However, the high complication rate and reintervention rate should be discussed with patients who are considering undergoing this procedure.

Colpectomy Significantly Reduces the Risk of Urethral Fistula Formation after Urethral Lengthening in Transgender Men Undergoing Genital Gender Affirming Surgery.
Al-Tamimi, M., Pigot, G. L., van der Sluis, W. B., van de Grift, T. C., Mullender, M. G., Groenman, F., & Bouman, M.-B. The Journal of Urology, December 2018, olume 200, Issue 6, Pages 1315–1322.
A total of 294 transgender men underwent gender affirming surgery with urethral lengthening. A urethral fistula developed in 111 of the 232 patients (48%) without colpectomy and in 13 of the 62 (21%) who underwent primary colpectomy (p <0.01). Secondary colpectomy resulted in 100% fistula closure when performed in 17 patients with recurrent urethral fistula at the proximal urethral anastomosis and the fixed part of the neourethra.

Gender-Affirming Vaginectomy And Colpocleisis
Helen Hougen, Kamran Sajadi. The Journal of Urology, April 2018, Volume 199, Issue 4, Supplement, Page e1073.
Vaginectomy decreases the likelihood of retained mucocele and may be safer than blind fulguration of the vagina, which is another common practice. The companion video demonstrates the key steps in this procedure as well as differences from a prolapse colpocleisis.

Robot-assisted laparoscopic colpectomy in female-to-male transgender patients; technique and outcomes of a prospective cohort study [Full text]
Freek Groenman, Charlotte Nikkels, Judith Huirne, Mick van Trotsenburg, Hans Trum
Surgical Endoscopy, August 2017, Volume 31, Issue 8, pp 3363–3369.
Study results show that [robot-assisted laparoscopic Vaginectomy] combined with [robot-assisted laparoscopic Hysterectomy] is feasible as a single-step surgical procedure in FtM transgender surgery.

Laparoscopic Vaginal-Assisted Hysterectomy With Complete Vaginectomy for Female-To-Male Genital Reassignment Surgery.
Gomes da Costa A, Valentim-Lourenço A, Santos-Ribeiro S, Carvalho Afonso M, Henriques A, Ribeirinho AL, Décio Ferreira J. J Minim Invasive Gynecol. 2016 Mar-Apr;23(3):404-9.
This study suggests the feasibility of laparoscopic vaginectomy in genital reassignment surgery. The procedure can be executed as a continuation of the hysterectomy with the potential advantage of the laparoscopy providing better exposure of the anatomic structures with low blood losses (less than 500 mL) and few complications. Furthermore, using this approach, adequate-sized vaginal mucosa flaps were obtained for the urethral reconstruction.

Outcome and Risk Factors for Vaginectomy in Female to Male Transsexuals
M. Spilotros, DJ Ralph, N Christopher, Institute of Urology London, presented at the World Meeting on Sexual Medicine. 2013.
This presentation includes reasons, treatment and results for vaginectomy. Complications are few and easy to manage. The severity of bleeding is directly related to vaginal length. Patients report high satisfaction rates.

Colpocleisis: a review.
FitzGerald MP, Richter HE, Siddique S, Thompson P, Zyczynski H; Ann Weber. Int Urogynecol J Pelvic Floor Dysfunct. 2006 May;17(3):261-71. Epub 2005 Jun 28.
Summarizes published data about colpocleisis (in women) and to highlight areas about which data are lacking.

Vaginectomy and laparoscopically assisted vaginal hysterectomy as adjunctive surgery for female-to-male transsexual reassignment: preliminary report.
Ergeneli MH, Duran EH, Ozcan G, Erdogan M. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol. 1999 Nov;87(1):35-7.

Urethroplasty

Urologic Complications After Phalloplasty or Metoidioplasty.
Nikolavsky D, Hughes M, Zhao LC. Clin Plast Surg. 2018 Jul;45(3):425-435.
In the past decade, issues facing transgender individuals have come to the forefront of popular culture, political discourse, and medical study. The evaluating physician should have knowledge of the reconstructed anatomy, as well as potential postoperative complications. This knowledge will aid in providing appropriate care and recognizing issues that may require specialized urologic care. Transgender anatomic definitions and a synopsis of common urologic complications specific to transmen, including urethrocutaneous fistulae, neourethral strictures, and persistent vaginal cavities are discussed.

Pedicled superficial inferior epigastric artery perforator flap for salvage of failed metoidioplasty in female-to-male transsexuals.
Schmidt M., Grohmann M., Huemer GM. Microsurgery. 2014 Dec 2. doi: 10.1002/micr.22361. [Epub ahead of print]
In a 26-year-old transsexual patient a combination of urethral fistula, urethral stenosis, and disintegrated distal neourethra had developed as a consequence of postoperative hematoma formation. Metoidioplasty was reconstructed by means of a tubed, pedicled superficial inferior epigastric artery perforator flap from the left lower abdomen. The long-term result was stable with pleasing genital appearance, adequate functional outcome, and satisfactory donor site morbidity. In our opinion, this procedure may represent a viable alternative for urethral reconstruction in thin patients.

Urethral Lengthening in metoidioplasty (female-to-male sex reassignment surgery) by combined buccal mucosa graft and labia minora flap.
Djordjevic ML, Bizic M, Stanojevic D, Bumbasirevic M, Kojovic V, Majstorovic M, Acimovic M, Pandey S, Perovic SV. Urology. 2009 Aug;74(2):349-53. Epub 2009 Jun 7.
Urethral lengthening is the most difficult part in female to male transsexuals and poses many challenges. A combined buccal mucosa graft and labia minora flap present a good choice for urethral reconstruction with minimal postoperative complications.

Labial ring flap: a new flap for metaidoioplasty in female-to-male transsexuals [FULL TEXT]
A. Takamatsu, T. Harashina. JPRAS, Vol 63, Issue 3, January 2009.
The labial ring flap technique was performed on 43 patients after 2005. This new technique uses all the labia minora skin incorporated with the anterior vaginal flap for urethral lengthening.

Saving labium minus skin to treat possible urethral stenosis in female-to-male transsexuals.
Hage JJ, van Turnhout AA, Dekker JJ, Karim RB. Ann Plast Surg. 2006 Apr;56(4):456-9.
Neourethral stenosis is the main complication following metaidoioplasty in female-to-male transsexuals. We introduce the use of surplus of minor labial skin to correct these stenoses.

Review of the literature on construction of a neourethra in female-to-male transsexuals.
Hage JJ, Bloem JJ. Ann Plast Surg. 1993 Mar;30(3):278-86.
A review of the literature on the construction of a pars pendulans and a pars fixa urethrae in phalloplasty is given. The use of local tissue for lengthening of the fixed part of the urethra can be successful in case a vaginal flap is incorporated.

Scrotoplasty

Scrotal Reconstruction in Transgender Men Undergoing Genital Gender Affirming Surgery Without Urethral Lenghtening: A Stepwise Approach
Pigot GL, Al-Tamimi M, van der Sluis WB, Ronkes B, Mullender MG, Bouman MB.
A 29-year-old transgender men underwent scrotal reconstruction and phalloplasty without urethral lengthening. For this purpose, the traditional scrotal reconstruction technique in patients that undergo urethral lengthening was modified. Scrotal reconstruction using a horseshoe-shaped pedicled pubic flap, labia majora fat pads, and 2 cranially pedicled U-shaped labia majora flaps results in a neo-scrotum that resembles the biological scrotum closely in terms of bulkiness, size, shape, tactile sensation, and anatomical position.

Scrotal reconstruction in female-to-male transsexuals: a novel scrotoplasty.
Selvaggi G, Hoebeke P, Ceulemans P, Hamdi M, Van Landuyt K, Blondeel P, De Cuypere G, Monstrey S
Plast Reconstr Surg. 2009 Jun;123(6):1710-8.

Testicular Prostheses: Development and Modern Usage
D Bodiwala, DJ Summerton, and TR Terry. Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2007 May; 89(4): 349–353.
Testicular prostheses produced from various materials have been in use since 1941. The most common substance used around the world in the manufacture of these implants is silicone; however, in the US, this material is currently banned because of theoretical health risks. This has led to the development of saline-filled prostheses as an alternative. The long-term fears associated with silicone implants, namely connective tissue or autoimmune diseases and carcinogenesis, have not been substantiated. Longer-term quality-of-life results are still pending.

Scrotal construction by expansion of labia majora in biological female transsexuals.
Sengezer M, Sadove RC. Ann Plast Surg. 1993 Oct;31(4):372-6.
In each patient, tissue expanders were inserted into the labia majora several months before free flap phalloplasty. The anatomical position of the labia majora produces a scrotum properly located in relation to surrounding anatomical structures. Excellent aesthetic results can be achieved with this procedure.

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Last updated: 09/15/23