short skin on underside?

[chambom]

My brother just had his baby and he has a bent penis. The pediatrician is saying that the skin is short on the underside. They need to make sure the uretha isn't also bent. The doctor also said that they will use the skin from the circumcision to fix the problem. I haven't convinced them not to circumcize, but what if they didn't? Could this problem still be fixed?

Anyone have any knowledge of this problem?

Thanks

[Fellow Traveler]

Originally Posted by chambom

My brother just had his baby and he has a bent penis. The pediatrician is saying that the skin is short on the underside. They need to make sure the uretha isn't also bent. The doctor also said that they will use the skin from the circumcision to fix the problem. I haven't convinced them not to circumcize, but what if they didn't? Could this problem still be fixed?

Anyone have any knowledge of this problem?

Thanks

I am pretty sure there are techniques that don't require the foreskin and in terms of repair, it depends on how bad it is. I think (hypospadias right?) doesn't always have to be fixed, it depends on the degree.

[Raelynn]

If the baby has chordee then it must be repaired or (to my knowledge) it can cause major problems down the road. If the baby has a hooded (or incomplete) foreskin, he may also have hypospadias, and in the US, they pretty much always use the foreskin to do the repairs. There are techniques to use skin from inside the mouth or hands, but I've read about those mostly being done in Australia and not in the US.

[perspective]

Originally Posted by jwhispers

I am pretty sure there are techniques that don't require the foreskin and in terms of repair, it depends on how bad it is. I think (hypospadias right?) doesn't always have to be fixed, it depends on the degree.

It is true hypo does not always need to be fixed, which could also be the case with this condition. But also remember that skin is skin, even if they do need to repair it, they do not have to use the foreskin. It just so happens that since circ is so routine with baby boys, that whenever a baby boy needs skin for surgery doctors assume they will use the "useless flap of skin" at the end of their penises.

[eepster]

As others have said, it sounds like hypospadia with chordee and a slightly hooded foreskin. Before they choose to do anything, they should consult a few different pediatric urologists. Often repair is unnecessary, but Drs want to fix it. As my mother put it "Drs are fond of their treatments."

If there are no funtional issues then it can be left alone. In this case circ should be avoided (OK around here we think circ should be avoided in general anyway) so that when the child is old enough if he decides he wants the repairs done for cometic reasons then he has the foreskin availabe for that. Also, if the only issues are cosmetic the foreskin helps cover up the hypospadia (kind of like wearing bangs to hide a scar on ones forehead or a beard to down play a weak jawline.)

[BamaDude]

Originally Posted by eepster

As others have said, it sounds like hypospadia with chordee and a slightly hooded foreskin. Before they choose to do anything, they should consult a few different pediatric urologists. Often repair is unnecessary, but Drs want to fix it. As my mother put it "Drs are fond of their treatments."

If there are no funtional issues then it can be left alone. In this case circ should be avoided (OK around here we think circ should be avoided in general anyway) so that when the child is old enough if he decides he wants the repairs done for cometic reasons then he has the foreskin availabe for that. Also, if the only issues are cosmetic the foreskin helps cover up the hypospadia (kind of like wearing bangs to hide a scar on ones forehead or a beard to down play a weak jawline.)

:
Brilliantly and succinctly put, Eepster... especially the part I put in bold type!

Chambom, the bottom line is the "pee test"- If he's peeing okay, then there is no medical reason to start cutting on the boy's penis or foreskin at this point, period.

[Greg B]

I think it is also worth adding that we can restore a missing foreskin by growing more skin. This might be all that is needed in this case. Doctors, as a rule, are completely ignorant of this treatment.

Regards