The penis and scrotum are particularly vulnerable to injury due to their exposure. Common types of injuries to these areas include:
The approach to treating a penile zipper injury varies depending on the specifics of the injury, such as the location of the skin caught in the zipper. Our team of expert surgeons assesses each case to determine the most appropriate technique for safely releasing the trapped tissue.
Genital injuries, particularly minor ones, tend to heal relatively quickly. Patients usually see improvement within 3–4 days of treatment.
The specifics of aftercare depend on the nature of the treatment received. Before discharge, a surgeon or nurse will provide detailed instructions on how to care for the wound to promote healing and prevent infection.
At Cutis Hospital, a skilled surgeon can determine what technique is suitable for releasing the penile skin based upon the location of the entrapment (interlocking teeth of the zipper or zipper head).
A team of qualified nursing staff provides excellent care to the patient before and after releasing the penile skin. It minimizes the discomfort and lowers the risk of infection.
We have a sanitized setup to rule out any chance of infection.
Zipper injuries may damage the soft-tissues of prepuce or penile skin due to entrapment into the interlocking teeth or fastener of a zipper. You may notice swelling, bruising and edema resulting from this injury. A moderate zipper injury may turn into a severe injury if the entrapped penile skin is not released by a surgeon. Therefore, it is prudent to seek immediate medical care. At Cutis, we have expert surgeons and qualified nursing staff for the emergency treatment.
In most scenarios, children or teenagers become the victims of zipper injuries if they are inattentive when zipping a pair of pants. However, an adult male may become a victim of this injury at advanced years due to losing the mobility of hands or due to suffering from neurologic disorder or neurocognitive disabilities.
Yes, it is possible to liberate the penile skin without surgery. At Cutis, expert surgeons determine the penile zipper injury treatment after examining how much penile skin has been entrapped and where it has been entrapped. The penile skin may become entrapped into the interlocking teeth or fastener of zipper. Hence, the treatment method varies.
Before starting any treatment, we use a narrow elastic wrap to reduce the edema around the site of injury. It compresses the entrapped penile skin and it is easier to remove the zipper.
1st Method
A surgeon will apply mineral oil to the location of the zipper where the penile skin remains entrapped. It softens the skin and allows for the manipulative removal of the skin. A flat-end screwdriver is used in order to pry open the zipper and to separate the strips of interlocking teeth.
The released tissue of penile skin may become abraded, contused or lacerated due to this method of release. The released tissue may even start bleeding. There may even be secondary penile injuries. Therefore, it is prudent to let skilled surgeons perform this procedure.
2nd Method
A surgeon may even cut the cloth portion of the zipper using scissors if the penile skin is entrapped in the interlocking zipper teeth. The cut is made as close as possible to the zipper teeth. A zipper’s individual teeth may fall out and the entrapped penile skin will be released. The injured penile skin may start bleeding after being released and may need immediate medical attention.
3rd Method
These release methods are applicable if the penile skin is entrapped between the interlocking zipper teeth. However, we use a different method of release if the penile skin is entrapped into the fastener. The central/median fastener is cut using a special tool.
It is possible to separate the interlocking strips after cutting open the fastener. A patient requires necessary medical attention after releasing the penile skin, as there will be pain, laceration and bleeding.
A surgical intervention will be performed at Cutis if the aforementioned techniques fail to release the penile skin.
In case of children, intranasal anesthetic is used in most scenarios in order to numb the site of injury before releasing the penile skin. Dorsal penile block is performed if a large volume of penile tissue has been entrapped. The adults usually receive local anesthesia or dorsal pain block.
A minor cut in the genital area may result in copious bleeding due to rich blood supply. At Cutis, we have qualified nursing staff capable of taking necessary measures to stop the bleeding. It is not usually necessary to receive follow-up treatment. However, you may need to book a consultation with a healthcare professional at Cutis if you notice the following complications.
We provide effective surgical and non-surgical treatments for all parts of the body. At Cutis Hospital, our cosmetic and plastic surgery team is committed to giving patients safe and high-quality care.
