Concealed epispadias associated with a buried penis

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Urology
• Congenital Genitourinary Abnormalities

Background:

• Buried penis is a congenital defect involving the penile shaft skin and an unretractable foreskin.
• Epispadias is a congenital anomaly of the urethra and glans.
• These anomalies are typically isolated but can be associated.

Observation:

• A retrospective review identified five children with both buried penis and epispadias.
• Three children presented with glanular epispadias, and two had midshaft epispadias.
• Surgical management involved the Cantwell-Ransley procedure combined with penile skin refashioning.

Findings:

• Four out of five patients achieved satisfactory outcomes post-surgery.
• One patient required additional urethroplasty due to glanular dehiscence.
• The study confirms the possibility of co-occurrence of these penile anomalies.

Implications:

• Parents of children with buried penises should be informed about the potential for associated epispadias.
• Palpation for a dorsal cleft in the glans through the foreskin may indicate an underlying epispadiac urethra.
• Simultaneous surgical correction of both buried penis and epispadias is feasible and effective.