What is hypospadias

  Hypospadias is a common urethral and external genital malformation in male children with an incidence of about 4 per 1,000, caused by the cessation of the urogenital sulcus in the ventral longitudinal form of the genital node during fetal development from posterior to anterior closure process.  The clinical features are: the opening of the urethra deviates from the center of the glans and is located on the ventral side of the penis or glans. The foreskin is folded like a turban over the dorsal side of the penis, sometimes accompanied by a downward curvature of the penis.  The abnormal urination and special appearance of children with hypospadias directly affects the normal development of the penis and the physical and mental health of the child, and can even affect their adult life and fertility.  The only way to treat hypospadias is to operate as early as possible.  It can be considered from 6 months to 1 year of age, too early to consider the risks of anesthesia, and the surgery can be completed before 2 years of age, if possible, to reduce the impact of the surgery on the child’s psychological growth. Criteria for successful surgery: urethral opening in a normal position; a functioning penis that allows for a normal life; a reconstructed urethra that allows the patient to stand and urinate; and a normal or near-normal appearance, similar to the result after circumcision.  There are more than 200 documented surgical options for hypospadias, and a reasonable surgical option should be chosen for each patient’s situation. Under normal circumstances, the patient can be discharged 2-3 days after surgery. If open catheterization is used the child can move around completely normally. A preventive urethral dilatation is possible 3-4 weeks after surgery, depending on the urinary situation, to check the new urethra and to avoid internal adhesions leading to strictures.  In severe hypospadias, especially in cases with a cleft scrotum, preoperative chromosomal and gonadal examinations are necessary to confirm the sex and exclude hermaphroditism. In cases with severe hypospadias or previous failed surgery, the surgery should be performed in stages to achieve a good result.  Hypospadias surgery is strictly a plastic surgery. It is highly precise and difficult to perform in practice. Even in developed countries, there are various post-operative complications. Choosing an experienced specialist to perform the surgery, usually a pediatric urologist specializing in pediatric urology, is the first step toward success.