Early hypospadias repair: The contributions of Harvey Cushing

Purpose: The early evolution of surgical reconstructive techniques has been well documented in the literature. However, a review of the Johns Hopkins hospital surgical files revealed an interesting participant in early hypospadias repair: Harvey Cushing (1869-1939). Methods: Following IRB approval, we reviewed the surgical records from 1896 to 1912 and selected from among his non-neurosurgical patients, one case of first-stage hypospadias repair. Results: Cushing operated upon the 21-year-old patient, performing a first-stage repair of hypospadias, in conjunction with a repair of a right inguinal hernia. The patient was discharged following a second stage operation. At that time, the patient was in good condition and was voiding appropriately. There was no further follow-up. Conclusion: The repair of hypospadias evolved through the work of European surgeons, from the mid-eighth century through the early nineteenth century. The case we report here illustrates Cushing's early work in the fields of urologic and plastic surgery.