Epispadias

Epispadias is a rare congenital condition in which the urethra does not develop into a full tube. Instead, the urine exits from the body from the wrong place. Typically in males, the penis is short and wide with an abnormal curve. The urethra may also open on the top or the side of the penis instead of the tip. In some cases, the urethra may be open along the entire length of the penis. In females, the clitoris and labia develop abnormally, and the opening to the urethra may be in the belly area. The cause of epispadias is unknown, however it may occur as a result of the abnormal development of the pubic bone. Epispadias affects one out of every 117,000 newborn boys and one in 484,000 newborn girls, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Surgery is the only form of treatment for epispadias, and it is usually performed in the first seven years of life.