A 40-year-old man in the UK made medical history for being the first known person to have broken his penis vertically, reported Gizmodo. The man sustained the painful injury when his penis buckled against his partner's perineum, or the area between the genitals and the anus, in the middle of sex.

The first of its kind case was reported in the British Medical Journal, with the urologists behind the study saying the patient's injury was a very rare occurrence amid the more run-of-the-mill cases of a broken penis.

According to the case report published in the BMJ, the patient suffered a vertical penile fracture but did not encounter many of the symptoms of a classic penile fracture. He hadn't heard a loud popping when it happened, for instance, nor did he develop a "rolling" sign, which is when the skin of the penis can be rolled over a large bruise that forms on it. His penis was also only moderately swollen and he didn't immediately lose his erection; instead, it gradually faded.

After an MRI was conducted, doctors discovered that the man's penis had a three-centimetre-long tear around the middle of the shaft, rather than a horizontal tear which is more common.

Fortunately, the patient has fully recovered after undergoing surgery. In fact, he was able to resume sexual activity within six months, with no problems reported.

Researchers told Gizmodo that greater awareness of cases like this will hopefully convince people in the future to treat penile fracture like the urgent health problem it is and seek help for it promptly.

WHAT IS A PENILE FRACTURE?
A penile fracture is not like a regular bone fracture, as the penis is not made of bone. A penile fracture, instead, is a tear of the tunica albuginea, a protective membrane inside the penis that surrounds the erectile tissue, that occurs when an erect penis is subjected to an abnormal 'bending' force.

The classic sign of a penile fracture is a "popping" sensation, causing an immediate detumescence or loss of erection, followed by swelling and bruising around the torn area.

While uncommon, penile fractures are thought to be underreported due to embarrassment. However, it is a serious injury that requires medical attention within 24 hours.

Usually, surgery is required to repair the tear and stop the bleeding.

Lasting complications can include permanent erectile dysfunction, a scarred and narrowed urethra, or a much more curved penis than before.