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780.e2 Persistent Frenulum

Persistent Frenulum
VetBooks.ir Behavior/Exercise

BASIC INFORMATION
The male should be sexually rested until the
Definition mucosal defect is completely healed.
Persistence of a thin membrane of tissue
between the ventral tip of the penis and the Possible Complications
corpus of the penis or the inner prepuce Balanoposthitis may develop secondary to the
persistent frenulum or after resection of the
Synonyms attachment.
Ventral deviation of the penis (phallocampus),
balanopreputial fold remnant Recommended Monitoring
Monitor for hemorrhage or purulent preputial
Epidemiology discharge.
SPECIES, AGE, SEX
In male dogs and cats; the spontaneous condi- PROGNOSIS & OUTCOME
tion is present at birth.
PERSISTENT FRENULUM Preputial region of a Very good prognosis after frenulum resection
GENETICS, BREED PREDISPOSITION male dog (cranial is to the right). Arrow points to
Cocker spaniels may be predisposed. the persistent frenulum, a translucent band on the PEARLS & CONSIDERATIONS
ventral aspect of the penis.
RISK FACTORS Comments
Prepubertal castration (see Etiology and The heritability of penile frenulum is unknown
Pathophysiology below) DIAGNOSIS for the dog and cat but is heritable in other
species (bovine, ovine, caprine, porcine).
ASSOCIATED DISORDERS Diagnostic Overview
Posthitis (inflammation of the penis), infertility Most cases of persistent frenulum go undiag- Prevention
(intromission failure), testicular hypoplasia, nosed or are incidental findings during urethral If appropriate, delay castration in nonbreeding
hypospadias, diphallus catheterization. Physical exam with observation animals until after puberty (>6 months).
of the lesion is diagnostic.
Clinical Presentation Technician Tips
HISTORY, CHIEF COMPLAINT Differential Diagnosis Difficulty may be encountered during penile
Licking at the penis, inguinal urine scalding due Preputial adhesion secondary to trauma or exposure for urethral catheterization when a
to urine dripping, painful erection, difficulty infection penile frenulum is present.
breeding
Initial Database Client Education
PHYSICAL EXAM FINDINGS Physical exam of the penis after complete Delaying castration in nonbreeding animals
• Ventral curvature of the distal penis (phal- preputial retraction until after puberty (>6 months) prevents the
locampus), with the presence of a thin band iatrogenic occurrence of a persistent frenulum.
of tissue between the ventral tip of the penis TREATMENT
and the corpus of the penis or the inner fold SUGGESTED READING
of the prepuce (dogs) Treatment Overview Romagnoli S, et al: Disorders of sexual differentiation
• In cats, the remnant is ringlike rather than Treatment is necessary if there is urine dribbling, in puppies and kittens: a diagnostic and clinical
a band because the penis separates from balanoposthitis (inflammation of the penis and approach. Vet Clin North Am Small Anim Pract
the prepuce (during embryonic growth) in prepuce), or the animal is intended for breeding. 36:572, 2006.
a circumferential manner rather than a linear,
longitudinal manner as in dogs. Acute General Treatment ADDITIONAL SUGGESTED
The ventral band (dog) or circumferential READINGS
Etiology and Pathophysiology attachment (cat) is resected with surgical scissors Axnér E, et al: Reproductive disorders in 10 domestic
The frenulum is a remnant of the balanopre- while the patient is under sedation or light male cats. J Small Anim Pract 37(8):394, 1996.
putial fold, which normally dissolves during general anesthesia. Hutchison JA: Persistence of the penile frenulum in
postnatal development under the influence dogs. Can Vet J 14(3):71, 1973.
of androgens (near puberty). Prepubertal Chronic Treatment AUTHOR: James A. Flanders, DVM, DACVS
(early-age) castration prevents or diminishes Postoperatively, the prepuce may need to be EDITOR: Michelle A. Kutzler, DVM, PhD, DACT
dissolution of this attachment. retracted daily to prevent readherence.

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