Hinging the urethral plate in hypospadias meatoplasty.

A technique is described for creation of a cosmetically normal, vertical slit-like urethral meatus in conjunction with common hypospadias reconstructions that preserve the urethral plate. The distal portion of the urethral plate is incised longitudinally in the midline. This incision allows the flat and rigid urethral plate to be folded or hinged during glans plasty, molding it into an anatomically correct vertical slit configuration. This modification has been applied successfully to a variety of meatal-based flap and onlay island flap urethroplasties with no increased morbidity and a significant improvement in meatal cosmetic results.