Pediatric urologist at WVU Medicine Children鈥檚 innovates safer hypospadias surgery
Hypospadias, a birth defect that results in a baby boy鈥檚 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 鈥渓eaking鈥 from the urethra and out of the skin. Osama Al-Omar, M.D., professor and chief of pediatric urology at WVU Medicine Children鈥檚, 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.
鈥淗aving fewer complications means fewer surgeries,鈥 Al-Omar said. 鈥淭hat translates into fewer doctors鈥 appointments, less family separation and reduced stress for the child and their family.鈥
Learn more about DERFF surgery .