Ancient Surgical Treatment of Hypospadias (From Hippocrates (5th-4th century B.C.) to the 12th century A.D.)

Abstract

Introduction: No ancient Greek and Roman physician and surgeon ever observed, diagnosed or described either cases of female hypospadias and epispadias, or male epispadias, but only cases of male hypospadias. However they devised and practised exceptionally skilful surgeries to correct this anatomical defect in men. Material and methods: A critical and philological review of the passages of ancient surgical treatises dealing with hypospadias and its surgical treatment. Results: The medieval physicians confined themselves to inheriting and repeating the surgical achievements of the Greek and Roman surgeons. Conclusion: The surgical techniques, the skill and the anatomophysiological acumen of the Hellenistic surgeons are still astonishing.