Penis Research and Penis Enlargement

HYPOSPADIAS

What is a hypospadias?

Hypospadias is a birth defect found in boys in which the urinary tract opening is not located properly at the tip of the penis, this occurs in about 1 in 100 male births. When a boy is born with hypospadias, there is a 20% chance of finding hypospadias in another family member, such as a father or a brother.

There are varying degrees of severity of hypospadias and several different surgical procedures to correct it, depending upon the type. "Chordee", a bending of the penis on erection, sometimes occurs with hypospadias. In this case, hypospadias repair and chordee repairs are performed at the same time. Hypospadias surgery will be performed to extend the urinary tube (urethra) to the end of the penis, while the chordee repair will straighten out the penis.

Why should hypospadias be treated?

The ability to stand and urinate is important for boys. When the urethra opens before it reaches the tip of the penis, a boy may be unable to stand and urinate with a direct stream. The youngster who has to sit to urinate is at an extreme social disadvantage. Additionally, as an adult male, a straight penis is necessary for satisfactory sexual function and reproduction.

How is hypospadias treated?

Hypospadias is treated through surgery and early childhood is generally the best time for surgical correction of hypospadias because younger children tend to tolerate the discomfort of surgery better than older children. Additionally, psychological studies indicate that the best time to perform surgery on the male genitalia is between the ages of 8 months to 18 months.

The surgical procedure for hypospadias correction and the surgical recovery time will vary depending upon the severity of the problem. Mild cases of hypospadias, with minimal chordee, are often corrected by simple outpatient procedures. Moderate to severe cases with chordee may require more extensive surgery with a stay in a hospital.

What are the possible complications of hypospadias repair?

There are a number of possible risks associated with any surgical procedure. Some of the more common complications associated with hypospadias surgeries are as follow:

Bleeding is controlled post-operatively by the use of pressure dressings. However, a small amount of bleeding for the first several days post-operatively is normal. A few drops of blood or a spot no larger than a quarter on the diaper is acceptable.
Bladder Spasms usually due to the presence of the in-dwelling catheters are common post-operatively and are controlled by medications that relax the bladder.
Infections are a risk after any surgical procedure, is uncommon after hypospadias repair. To prevent infection the child may be prescribed an oral antibiotic for several days post-operatively. The child may develop a fever or other signs of infection including any increase in redness, swelling, or the presence of pus at the incision site.
Fistula is a urine leak from the newly formed urethra, usually requires outpatient surgical repair.
Stenosis is a narrowing of the urethra and is a serious but a rare complication following hypospadias repair.
Recurrent Chordee is an uncommon complication, but does require surgical correction to repair