Does Testosterone Advance the Meatus in Children with Proximal Hypospadias?

Abstract

Background: Pre-operative preparation of the children with hypospadias may involve the administration of testosterone to argument penile dimensions. However, the effect of testosterone on the urethral meatus is not established. The aim of this study was to prospectively evaluate the effect of testosterone on the location of the hypospadiac meatus. Materials and Methods: This was a prospective observational study of children, aged 15 years and younger, who are being prepared for hypospadias repair at the pediatric surgery unit of a teaching hospital in Enugu, Nigeria. This study covered a 5-year period. The following data were analyzed: age of the patients at presentation, type of hypospadias, proximal and distal penile measurements at onset and at 4 weeks after testosterone injection. Results: A total of 24 cases of proximal hypospadias were recruited into the study. The ages of the patients at presentation ranged from 1 month to 18 months with a median age of 3 months. Majority of the patients had mid-penile hypospadias. Regarding response to testosterone, proximal part of the penile shaft responded more than the distal part. However, statistical analysis showed no advancement in the location of the meatus. Conclusion: This is study has shown that a single dose of testosterone has no effect on the location of meatus in children with hypospadias.