OBJECTIVETo evaluate the basic principles of surgical correction of concealed penis.

METHODSFrom Jan. 1999 to Dec. 2002, 63 cases of concealed penis, aged from 1 year and 6 months to 19 years with a mean age of 7 years and 2 months, were corrected with two different approaches: 37 cases of group A with obesity were corrected by anchoring micrus tissue onto the pubis at the base of the penis, and 26 cases of group B by fixing the subcutateous tissues at both sides of the penile shaft to the deep tunica albuginea at the penile root. Then prepuce plasty was carried out.

RESULTSSix-month postoperative follow-up found adequate exposure of the penis in all of group A, prepuce oedema in 7 cases, abdomen fat liquidization in 3 cases, unsatisfactory recovery of incision hollow in 3 cases and patchy numbness of the glans in 1 case. The 25 cases of group B had satisfactory exposure of the penis, with no obvious prepuce oedema, 1 case with retraction of the penis 7 days after operation.

CONCLUSIONSVarious surgical procedures could be adopted for concealed penis, and the key to the satisfactory appearance is the restoration of penile tunicae and the fixation at the base of the penis. Further study is needed to determine the natural history of these disorders as well as which conditions and what age will benefit most from surgical intervention.