Frequently Asked Questions
Hypospadias repair is the surgical correction of the congenital condition known as hypospadias. Depending on the severity of the condition, it can be performed in either a single operation or may require two or three procedures to achieve the desired outcome of a normal looking penis.
Hypospadias repairs are very common.
Hypospadias is one of the most common congenital conditions in children with penises. Approximately 1 of every 250 to 300 newborn babies has hypospadias.
Milder forms of hypospadias (subcoronal) are more common than severe forms (penoscrotal and scrotoperineal).
If your child has hypospadias, we typically recommend a hypospadias repair between six months to two years after birth. However, as their parent, it’s your decision whether your child will have the repair or not.
Yes, a hypospadias repair is major surgery. However, some cases of hypospadias are more complicated requiring multiple steps to achieve a normal looking penis.
A hypospadias repair may take up to two to three hours. The duration depends on the complexity of the reconstruction to be performed. Cases more than three hours have occurred and are not a cause for alarm.
After a hypospadias repair, the pediatric anesthesiologist supervises your son’s recovery from general anesthesia and the transfer to the recovery room. Most hypospadias repair procedures are outpatient procedures so your son can go home the same day he has had surgery. The discharge home is ultimately dependent on the surgeon.
Detailed instructions are provided to assist you with your child’s recovery. Prescriptions are given for pain control and prophylactic antibiotics to minimize risk for infection. Kindly see the tables below that outline the standard medications used in the postoperative recovery period including any possible side effects that you should be aware of.
Keep your child’s penis and other affected areas as clean as possible to prevent infection. Caregivers / parents should wash hands with soap and water before handling your child’s bandages. If pee or poop gets on the bandages, gently clean the area with warm, soapy water and pat the area dry. The catheter will constantly drain urine so your child will require more frequent diaper changes as well.
Sponge bathing your child with warm water and soap is acceptable. Be careful around their affected areas and gently pat the areas dry.
It’s important for your child to take it easy for a few weeks after hypospadias repair to ensure proper healing.
Infants and toddlers should be able to resume many of their activities after three weeks. However, they shouldn’t go swimming or play in dirt, sand or mud until fully healed. These activities could lead to an infection.
Older children should avoid playing sports, riding bicycles or other physical play for at least six weeks.
After hypospadias repair your child may feel fatigued and sleep for longer periods. In general, swelling and bruising should go away after about two weeks. Many children fully recover after about six to eight weeks.
We advise that your son is kept from school or daycare for at least three weeks or until the drainage catheter is removed. In the interest of your child’s safety, he should not return to school until we have cleared this.