Analysis of the quality of life and patient satisfaction with the results of testicular prosthetics

BACKGROUND: Satisfaction with the results is a complex and poorly studied aspect of testicular prosthetics, which currently has no comprehensive consecration in the literature. There are no works that are based on a comprehensive view of the problem, from a subjective analysis of the local physical characteristics of the implant itself and the aesthetic perception of one’s body to assessing the impact of prosthetics on the patient’s sex life and socialization.

AIM: The aim of this study is to evaluate the results of testicular prosthetics using an original questionnaire reflecting satisfaction with the physical characteristics of the implant, sexual behavior characteristics and the socio-psychological status of the patient.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Questionnaires of 236 patients were analyzed — 112 adults 1 year after prosthetics and 124 adolescents after reaching 18 years of age with a period after surgery from 1 to 8 years. The survey was carried out using an original questionnaire that included 15 questions reflecting various aspects of the patient’s attitude to the results of prosthetics.

RESULTS: Overall satisfaction with prosthetics was more than 90% in both groups, prevailing in patients operated on in adolescence. The greatest satisfaction with prosthetics was noted in patients after testicular torsion and trauma, less satisfaction in patients with cryptorchidism, testicular hypoplasia, and monorchidism. When analyzing the patient’s interest in this procedure depending on the period before prosthetics, it was noted that satisfaction does not tend to decrease over time, up to a 10-year interval between the loss of the gonad and prosthetics. Requirements for the final result of prosthetics tend to increase in more educated patients. The results of the survey demonstrate the greatest demands for prosthetics in patients in the age group of 21–30 years as the most sexually active age category.

CONCLUSIONS: Patient satisfaction with modern implant prosthetics is quite high — at least 90%. However, these values are not maximum and leave room for further optimization of this method, which follows from the lack of a maximum assessment of satisfaction with the results of prosthetics — for all criteria the indicators do not exceed 95%.