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At Norton Children’s Urology, affiliated with the UofL School of Medicine, our pediatric urologists are fellowship trained in pediatric and adolescent urology specialty care. They have the expertise to provide specialized epispadias and exstrophy care.
Our state-of-the-art equipment is not available elsewhere in Louisville. We also are able to provide sedation.
Our specialists bring skill, respect and sensitivity to caring for your child’s urological needs.
Epispadias occurs when the opening of the urethra (the tube that allows urine to exit the body) is in the wrong location. Children with epispadias often have bladder exstrophy, a rare condition in which the bladder is not properly formed.
The causes of epispadias are unknown. The condition may occur due to improper development of the pubic bone. Epispadias can occur in boys and girls who are otherwise healthy.
About one in 117,000 newborn boys and one in 484,000 newborn girls will have epispadias. The condition usually is diagnosed at birth or during a physical exam shortly thereafter.
In boys with epispadia, the penis might be short and broad or abnormally curved. The urethra opening often is located at the top or side of the penis.
Girls with epispadia might have a narrow vaginal opening, split clitoris, wide labia and a short urethra. The opening where urine leaves the body may occur high in the urethra, potentially next to the bladder.
Urinary tract infections and urinary incontinence also are symptoms of epispadias.
Our team will help you determine the best course of treatment, depending on the severity of the condition. We often recommend surgical repair in patients where the epispadias is more than mild. The goal is to create typical-looking external genitalia that functions properly.
In boys, surgery is performed to move the urethra and correct the bend in the penis. The goal is to enable urine to exit from the end of the penis.
In girls, surgery might entail moving the urethra and repairing the bladder to prevent urine from leaking.