Hypospadias Disease

Hypospadias is a congenital disorder of the urethra where the urinary opening is not at the usual location on the head of the penis. It is the second-most common birth abnormality of the male reproductive system, affecting about one of every 250 males at birth. In roughly 90% of cases, the opening (meatus) is on or near the head of the penis (glans), referred to as distal hypospadias, while the remainder have proximal hypospadias with a meatus near or within the scrotum. Shiny tissue seen extending from the meatus to the tip of the glans, which would have made the urinary channel, is referred to as the urethral plate. In most cases, the foreskin is also underdeveloped and does not wrap completely around the penis, leaving the underside of the glans penis uncovered. Also, a downward bending of the penis, commonly referred to as chordee, may occur. This is found in 10% of distal hypospadias and 50% of proximal hypospadias at the time of surgery. The scrotum may be higher than usual to either side of the penis, called penoscrotal transposition, adding to the abnormal overall appearance.