The Lue procedure is an alternative surgical intervention and involves the division of the fibrous plaque with inlaying of saphenous vein in the created space. The advantage of this surgical approach is that there is no shortening of the penis.
The Lue procedure does the opposite of the Nesbit procedure; it makes the short side of the bend longer. In theory at least, this maintains the length of the erection, but the operation is a lot harder to perform and has a higher risk of complications. Shortening of the erection can still occur, the risk of impotence after surgery is greater that with Nesbit’s operation and there is a risk of damaging the delicate nerves which go to the end of the penis, resulting in the glans of the penis being numb.
The Lue procedure is performed through the same incision as the Nesbit’s operation, and again it is often preferable to perform a circumcision at the same time. A cut is made in the short side of the bend to allow it to be lengthened. However, as the bend is usually in an upward direction the nerve supply to the tip of the penis, which runs along the corpora cavernosa at the very site where the cut needs to be made, has to be moved out the way.
What happens during Lue procedure?
You’ll be given either a general or spinal anaesthetic.
Your consultant urologist will simulate an artificial erection during the surgery to confirm the degree and location of the deformity. To correct the deformity, your consultant will incise into the scarred area and place a graft over this. This is most commonly a synthetic graft, of which there are many types. The surgeon will discuss this with you.
In some cases, circumcision may also be performed at the same time to improve the outcome of the procedure.
This delicate manoeuvre can take up to an hour or two depending on the severity of the curvature. Once it has been done, a cut is made in the corpora cavernosa and a graft or patch is inserted to increase the length of the penis on the short side. The graft can either be a piece of artificial material or a segment of the patients own vein, taken from his thigh. The whole procedure takes over two hours, patients are in hospital for at least 24 hours after surgery and may have a bladder catheter inserted for the first few hours.
Recovery from Lue procedure
You may experience discomfort for a few days after the procedure – painkillers will be given to you to take home. Dissolvable stitches are normally used at skin level and do not require removal.
A catheter may need to be inserted into the bladder for 24 hours after the operation, to prevent any problems with passing urine. Once the catheter has been removed and you are passing urine normally, you will be able to go home.
The average hospital stay is 1 day. We suggest that you have someone drive you home if you are going a fair distance.
We would advise that you have daily showers to clean the wounds and you should avoid using soap directly on the actual wound.
Try and elevate your penis with padding or gauze to help alleviate swelling and bruising. You should abstain from sexual penetrative intercourse for six weeks Having normal erections during this time is normal and advised.
Every person is different with regards to healing, but you may find it can take up to two weeks for swelling and bruising to settle. The sutures can take approximately 10-14 days to dissolve and any wound issues will be picked up by the team on return for your follow-up.
When will I notice results?
Most men with normal erections will notice results straight away. Most men will be given some tablets to enhance erections, which help to stretch the graft during the healing process.
To make an appointment with our team please give us a call or send us an enquiry. More information on the Lue procedure can be found on our dedicated page here.
