Nerve grafting procedure restores erectile function after surgery for prostate cancer

1 min

A prostatectomy (surgical removal of the prostate gland) is a standard treatment for prostate cancer and has a good rate of success in curing the cancer. Unfortunately, the prostatectomy procedure can cause nerve damage to surrounding tissues and as a result, many men experience erectile dysfunction that is not easily treatable using usual therapies.

A surgical team based in Melbourne has refined a nerve grafting technique that involves removing nerves from the lower legs and grafting them to make a new connection between the major nerve in the upper thigh and the muscle tissue in the penis. This technique aims to resupply the penis with nerve function previously lost.   

The results, published in the journal European Urology, showed that the refined nerve grafting technique successfully restored erectile function in 71% (12/17) men who were in the study. This outcome has great promise for overcoming the inevitable side effects of prostatectomy that affect sexual function.

Read our research review

Keywords

Health practitioners
Prostate cancer

Did you find this page helpful?

Information provided on this website is not a substitute for medical advice

Call 000 for emergency services

If you or someone you know needs urgent medical attention.

Call MensLine Australia on 1300 78 99 78 for 24/7 support

MensLine Australia is a telephone and online counselling service for men with emotional health and relationship concerns.

Stay informed

Subscribe to our newsletter for health information, articles and real stories straight to your inbox

Your name

Your email

Email us

1300 303 878

Level 2, 492 St Kilda Road Melbourne VIC 3004

Stay up to date

FacebookInstagramLinkedinTwitterYoutubespotifytiktok

Healthy Male acknowledges the traditional owners of the land. We pay our respects to elders past, present and future. We are committed to providing respectful, inclusive services and work environments where all individuals feel accepted, safe, affirmed and celebrated. Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people should be aware that this website may contain images, voices and names of deceased persons.

Disclaimer

Healthy Male is funded by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care. This website does not host any form of advertisement. Information provided on this website is not a substitute for medical advice.

Trusted information partner of

Terms and conditions

Privacy policy

Site by Speckle Digital