An American man had to have the head of his penis cut off after using a sex ring to enhance his erection for a whole day.
Doctors treating the 68-year-old were forced to remove layers of dead tissue in this horrific case, but found the tip could not be saved and had to be removed.
However, in an apparent world first, the doctor used part of the man’s thigh to reconstruct parts of his penis.
The anonymous patient told doctors at the University of California’s urology department that he had used the ring, which stimulates an erection by trapping blood in the genitals for about 24 hours.
Unable to remove it from his swollen member by hand, he resorted to using a pair of pliers to pull it out.
Doctors treating the 68-year-old were forced to remove layers of dead tissue in the horrific case, but found the tip could not be saved and had to be removed.
In images too horrific to show in full, doctors were forced to peel away the gangrenous flesh of the penis that remained from the sexual device.
Some websites have a thriving market for metal cock rings from just £7.99. This example was taken from Etsy
But surprisingly, she only sought medical help a week later, after experiencing problems urinating.
Documenting the surgery in the journal Urology case reportsDoctors said that on admission the man’s penis was abnormally purple and the skin was covered in blisters and yellow spots.
The man, who was homeless, was initially discharged and transferred to a nursing facility after having a catheter inserted to help him urinate, given his apparent lack of major harm from his sexual escapade gone wrong.
However, two weeks later he returned because his entire penis had turned black and gangrenous.
This indicated that the limb had become necrotic and the tissue itself had died due to the extended attachment of the tight ring cutting off its blood supply.
Doctors gave the man a broad spectrum of antibiotics in an attempt to prevent further gangrene and, in footage too gruesome to show, began cutting away the dead flesh from his penis.
Using scalpels and surgical scissors, doctors painstakingly removed dead tissue layer by layer, until they found healthy, living tissue deep within, near the core of the member.
However, they found that the glans, the medical name for the head of the penis, could not be saved and had to be removed entirely. Doctors bandaged the bare penis to allow it to heal.
After a week of recovery, the man underwent another examination and removal of dead tissue before doctors turned their attention to reconstructing his penis.
They removed an 8-by-13-centimeter piece of skin from his right thigh, which they then grafted onto the bare core of the patient’s penis.
Doctors said the man remained stable after surgery and that a new catheter, inserted through his abdomen to help him urinate instead of normally through his penis, was working properly.
Discussing the case, doctors said instances of penis strangulation by sex rings were a rare but serious emergency, with potentially severe consequences for the patient.
“Penile strangulation caused by a constrictor ring is a urologic emergency that requires immediate removal to prevent vascular compromise and subsequent necrosis, as well as acute urinary retention,” they wrote.
‘The management of these patients poses a clinical challenge given the availability of tools available to the urologist in their respective facilities to remove the constrictive device.’
Doctors eventually replaced the dead penis tissue they had removed with a skin graft taken from the patient’s thigh.
Previously, doctors were forced to use hardware tools directly on men’s genitals in an attempt to free a patient’s member from the vise-like grip of the rings.
Doctors say that cock rings, when used safely, can help men suffering from erectile dysfunction alongside other treatments. However, they stress that men should speak to their GP first, not only for safety reasons, but because impotence can also be a possible warning sign of serious health problems such as diabetes, heart disease or prostate cancer.
They added that, as far as they knew, his case represented the first time a patient suffering from penile strangulation by a ring had been treated with a surgical skin graft from his thigh.
Doctors also said the patient will continue to be monitored to assess the long-term results of this surgery.
British doctors have long warned about the dangers of sex rings made from hard materials such as metal and have urged men not to use them.
Available online for as little as £3, the devices contract the flesh around the penis, trapping blood in the genitals.
This can help men maintain erections for longer and some fans claim that the devices also make their penis larger and enhance sexual pleasure.
But they are not without risks. They can become stuck, effectively strangling the penis by depriving it of the oxygenated blood that gives it life.
Not only can this result in an embarrassing trip to the emergency room, but it can also lead to parts of the penis dying from lack of oxygen if not treated quickly enough.
This can cause potentially irreversible damage in as little as 30 minutes.
In rare cases, men may need to have their limb partially or completely amputated and require extensive reconstructive surgery.
Doctors warn against wearing rings made of hard materials, such as metal specifically, as due to their lack of elasticity, they are more likely to get stuck.
In comparison, rings made of less robust materials, such as rubber, can be easily cut in an emergency.
Previously, doctors have been forced to use drills directly on men’s genitals to try to free the patient’s member from the device’s grip.
In a horrific clip circulating online, doctors… I had to resort to an angle grinder and then a bolt cutter to help a patient in such circumstances.
The man’s dangerously swollen member appears to have escaped unscathed from the heavy machinery used to free him.
An obvious but unavoidable risk of these difficult extractions is that the penis itself may be damaged during the procedure.
Online retailers sell dozens of toy rings, made from a variety of materials.
Stainless steel versions, which are sold in a variety of different sizes, can cost as little as £3.29 and be up to 2 inches in diameter.
The ads boast that they are “great for prolonging the duration of your erection” and “help you last longer in bed.”
Others promise to enhance pleasure for both men and their partners, providing “more intense orgasms” and “stimulation.”
Sex shops also sell some versions that advise men to insert their testicles as well.
Experts warn that this is especially dangerous because it can also lead to strangulation of the testicles.
Another key factor in determining the outcome of these cases is how long the man waits to seek medical help if the ring gets stuck.
There have been cases where men have waited many hours before seeking medical attention due to embarrassment, resulting in a worse outcome than if they had rushed to an emergency room.
While there is no official data on the number of cock ring incidents in the UK, the latest official NHS data shows that 15 emergency penile amputations were carried out in England between April 2022 and March 2023.
Doctors say that penis rings, when used safely, can help men suffering from erectile dysfunction along with other treatments.
However, they stress that men should speak to their GP first, not only for safety reasons, but because impotence can also be a possible warning sign of serious health problems such as diabetes, heart disease or prostate cancer.