What is hypospadias?

It is a congenital disease that is detected in the. Yes OK it is not exclusive to the male sex it is much more frequent in this one. Hypospadias is very rare in girls. When it occurs, we find a urinary meatus at the end of the urethra that empties into the vaginal introitus.

What are the causes of hypospadias?

In men, the urine outlet is made through the urinary meatus or hole located at the tip of the penis (in the glans), where the seminal material also exits during ejaculation. Hypospadias is characterized by having the urinary meatus in an abnormal location and this entails an affectation in the correct exit of the urine.

It can also be associated with other abnormalities of genital development as they can be:

• Pathological curving of the penis due to fibrous chord.
• Insufficient foreskin to cover the glans.
• or a urethral duplication.

How is it detected?

It is an easily detectable abnormality in men with a simple examination of the baby during urination. However, it can go unnoticed if its location is close to the correct one and is partially or totally covered by the foreskin or skin that covers the glans. In this case would be detected by separating the foreskin and explore the glans. It is necessary to carry out a functional study of the excretory tract to demonstrate the correct drainage of the urine and to rule out other abnormalities by means of a ultrasound.

Which is the treatment?

The treatment is surgical. It is usually done before the baby is one year old. It consists of a reconstruction of the urethra.

Depending on the location of the meatus, more than one surgical act may be required for its correct reconstruction. The further away the meatus is from its usual location (the tip of the penis or glans), the more complicated it will be to reconstruct it to its correct anatomical place.

The final objective of the surgery is the correct location of the urinary meatus in the glans penis and the correct drainage of urine to the outside. Likewise, the child must be monitored during its development towards puberty.

This malformation usually has a good aesthetic and functional prognosis.

The postoperative

During the postoperative period, the placement of a urinary catheter for a few days until checking the correct urinary drainage through the reconstructed meatus. Like all surgery, this treatment is not exempt from complications, the most frequent being:

• The appearance of a urinary fistula (reoperation should be evaluated)
• The narrowness of the duct
• Inflammation or a local infection

The severity of the malformation conditions the possibility of postsurgical complications.

What you should know:

• It is an abnormality easily detectable in males with a simple examination of the baby during urination.
• Treatment is surgical and is usually done before the baby is one year old.
• This malformation usually has a good aesthetic and functional prognosis.