Man left with eight month long erection following penile implant
Man left with eight month long erection following penile implant (Representative Image) Image Credit: Flickr/no prawns

A man from New Jersey has sued an urologist from Wilmington in North Carolina, after problems with a surgical procedure for a penile implant allegedly left him with an erection for eight months.

The penile implant consisted of inflatable cylinders inside the shaft of the penis, a fluid reservoir in the abdominal wall and a pump inside his scrotum, according to a report by Delaware Online.

Daniel Metzgar, a 44-year-old truck driver, told jurors at the New Castle County Superior Court in Wilmington the surgery, conducted in December 2009, affected his life because he "could hardly dance, with an erection poking my partner".

"It's not something you want to bring out at parties and show to friends," he added.

Metzgar's lawyer, Michael C Heyden told the court his client's condition made even everyday activities difficult to enjoy. He said he was unable to even enjoy family gatherings as he was "stuck in this position".

In response, Colleen D Shields, Dr Thomas J Desperito's lawyer, argued that problems with medical procedures were not always the cause of faulty medical practice. She pointed out that although Metzgar's scrotum was visibly swollen after the December surgery, he failed to take any action until April in the following year.

Shields also told the court that four months after the surgery, when Metzgar complained of an infection and the erection, he was told his implant would have to be removed. However, Metzgar claims he lost his insurance after the December surgery and did not have $10,000 to pay up for another surgery.

The implants were finally removed in August 2010 but Metzgar claims the scars from the first surgery have reduced his penis size by 50%.

The plaintiffs are seeking unspecified damages from Desperito, according to the report.