Man, 55, has his penis 'reconstructed' with Manuka honey

A man whose penis had split due to tumours had his member reconstructed using Manuka honey, doctors have revealed.

The unnamed 55-year-old, from Roskilde in Denmark, went to his GP when his foreskin became too tight to pull back.

Non-cancerous tumours, which were infected, were found on ‘all segments of the penis’.

These were causing the skin to split, known as penile denudation.

Medics removed the masses and attempted to reconstruct the penis via a skin graft, which failed.

They then turned to Manuka honey dressings, which had a ‘satisfying result’ and allowed the man to regain ‘full sexual function’. 

His penis was ‘completely healed’ 52 days later, the team of medics wrote in the International Journal of Surgery Case Reports.

A man whose penis was split had his genitals reconstructed using Manuka honey (stock)

Many wounds have benefited from Manuka honey, which has anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and healing properties, androzene reviews the doctors wrote.

They hope it will soon have a ‘permanent place in the physician’s arsenal of wound-treatment products’.

Mr Tet Yap, consultant urologist at The Princess Grace Hospital, part of HCA UK, told MailOnline: ‘Manuka honey contains a naturally-occurring enzyme that produces hydrogen peroxide. 

‘This enzyme is an antiseptic with superior antibacterial and antimicrobial properties, which help to stimulate the skin’s cells. 

‘For this reason, medical grade manuka honey has been reportedly used in some hospitals to treat wounds and to help stimulate the immune system, by providing nutrients for cell metabolism, reduced inflammation and rapid tissue repair.’ 

Penile denudation is a ‘rare and devastating injury’ that can leave men unable to have sex.

Few cases have been reported.

Those that have occurred were largely triggered by animal bites, burns, infections, circumcisions and ‘trauma from power-driven tools’. 

The man was referred to University Hospital Zealand when he developed a tight foreskin, lower urinary tract infection (UTI) symptoms and a tear in his penis. 

Lower UTI symptoms can include straining, dribbling or feeling the bladder is not empty.

He was first thought to have a severe case of balanoposthitis, which occurs when the foreskin and head of the penis become inflamed. 

However, an examination revealed the man was circumcised.

Tumours were found at the root of his penis, as well as on the shaft and tip.

These were removed, and he was given the antibiotics cefuroxime and metronidazole to prevent infection. Biopsies confirmed the tumours were benign.

The patient was then referred to the hospital’s department of plastic surgery, where he was treated with Manuka honey dressings and antibiotics.

After two weeks, healthy tissue had started to fill the wound. The medics, led by Dr Amalie Sylvester-Hvid, then took a split-thickness skin graft (STSG) from the man’s thigh.