What is the recommended timing for elective surgical correction of distal hypospadias in an otherwise healthy boy?
- A At birth, before discharge
- B At 3 years, before starting school
- C Between 6 and 18 months of age ✓
- D After 5 years, once toilet training is complete
Correct answer: C. Between 6 and 18 months of age
Explanation
Hypospadias repair is ideally undertaken between 6 and 18 months of age. By this time anaesthetic risk in infancy has fallen, penile size is adequate, and the child has no memory of the procedure and avoids psychological trauma and genital awareness. Circumcision is deferred so the foreskin can be used for reconstruction. Most distal hypospadias is corrected by the tubularised incised plate urethroplasty (Snodgrass technique), often as a single-stage procedure.
Reference: Pediatric Surgery (Coran), 7th ed.
High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP
Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.