Pediatric urologist at WVU Medicine Children’s innovates safer hypospadias surgery

Hypospadias, a birth defect that results in a baby boy’s urethra forming at the underside of the penis rather than the tip, is commonly corrected through a surgery performed six months to a year after birth. While the surgery is routine, 5 to 10 percent of babies will experience urethrocutaneous fistula (UCF), in which an opening forms that results in urine “leaking” from the urethra and out of the skin. Osama Al-Omar, M.D., professor and chief of pediatric urology at WVU Medicine Children’s, has developed a new surgical technique that will minimize or even eliminate the possibility of UCF.

Al-Omar began his research into the technique, called De-Epethelialized Rotational Foreskin Flap (DERFF), in 2022; the technique uses vascular tissue from the foreskin to provide three layers of support to the repaired urethra. Out of the 60 patients who have received the procedure, none have had UCF complications through seven months of follow-ups.

“Having fewer complications means fewer surgeries,” Al-Omar said. “That translates into fewer doctors’ appointments, less family separation and reduced stress for the child and their family.”

Learn more about DERFF surgery here.