The History of Prosthetic Surgery in Urology

There have been attempts to recreate the appearance and function of the genito-urinary tract with exogenous materials for millennia; but it is only within the last half century that real success has been achieved. This has been a result, to a large extent, of advancements in material science to provide inert yet pliable products. However, materials which are both resistant to infection and offer sustained functionality are still sought. In this chapter we explore how urologists worked in conjunction with industry to develop effective prosthetic solutions to: testicular absence or loss, erectile dysfunction, urinary incontinence, and strictures within the urinary tract.