What is Chordee Repair?

Chordee is a birth defect of the penis. The penis is curved downward during an erection. Chordee repair is a surgery to straighten the penis. The surgery is done by a specialized doctor called a pediatric urologist.

The Male Reproductive System © 2009 Nucleus Medical Media, Inc.

This procedure is done on male infants born with:

• Chordee

• Hypospadias with chordee—With this condition, the opening of the urethra (the tube that connects the bladder to the outside of the body) is on the bottom of the penis. Normally, the opening is at the tip of the penis. Hypospadias can make it difficult for the child to urinate while standing. It can also affect sexual function later in life.

The surgery is typically done after six months of age if the penis curvature is greater than 30 degrees. Curvature of the penis greater than 60 degrees can affect sexual function later in life.

After surgery, the penis should function normally.

Possible Complications

Complications are rare, but no procedure is completely free of risk. If your child is having the surgery, the doctor will review a list of possible complications, which may include:

• Shortened penis

• Bleeding

• Need for another operation

• Reaction to the anesthesia (eg, light-headedness, low blood pressure, wheezing)

• Infection (wound infection or urinary tract infection )

• Psychological trauma

Discuss these risks with the doctor before surgery.

Call Your Doctor

After arriving home, contact the doctor if any of the following occurs:

• Pain that is not controlled with the medicine the doctor has given

• Redness, increased swelling, or tenderness in the penis

• Bleeding from the penis

• Signs of infection, including...