Analysis of meatal location in 300 boys.

The high incidence of anterior hypospadias and the consideration of some of the parents that this location is a normal variation and the resistance to the surgical treatment led us to investigate the normal meatal location in boys. The location of external meatus was analyzed in 300 boys. The meatal location was classified as type A (anterior third/tip of the glans) type B (middle third) and type C (posterior third/glandular hypospadias). Of the 300 boys taken into study, in 282 (94%) meatus was located at the tip of the glans in 14 patients (4.6%) on the middle third, 'type B' and in 2 patients (0.6%) on the posterior third, 'type C'. The present study clearly demonstrated that the true location of urethral meatus should be at the tip of the glans. Type B is an acceptable location, which requires no operation and is seen in a very small percentage. Type C is a true glandular hypospadias and should certainly be corrected by glanuloplasty and meatal advancement. We are of the opinion that after surgery for anterior hypospadias meatal position presenting elsewhere than at the tip of the glans should not be considered a successful intervention.