Recently, Hoan My Da Lat Hospital successfully performed surgery on two young boys diagnosed with a rare congenital condition known as buried penis.

The patients, referred to as T. (8 years old) and Q. (13 years old), both reside in Da Lat City, Lam Dong Province. According to their families, the condition had been detected since birth. The children were taken to various medical facilities; however, no suitable and safe surgical solution had been identified, and they were only monitored periodically over the years.

Subsequently, the family brought the two boys to Hoan My Da Lat Hospital for further examination. Recognizing the complexity of the cases, the hospital’s doctors consulted with an andrology specialist to determine the most appropriate treatment approach. Both patients were then promptly indicated for surgery.

According to Dr. Cao Xuan Thanh, MD, MSc, Senior Specialist (Department of Surgery, Hoan My Da Lat Hospital), congenital buried penis is a condition in which the penile shaft is not visibly protruding but instead hidden beneath the skin and fatty tissue in the pubic area. Although the condition is not life-threatening, delayed treatment may result in abnormal development of penile structures, making future surgery more complicated. It can also cause difficulties in personal hygiene, increase the risk of urinary tract infections, and significantly affect a child’s psychological well-being, leading to low self-esteem, embarrassment, and social withdrawal.

Both surgeries were successfully completed in approximately 60 minutes each. Due to their complexity, the procedures required highly skilled surgeons and close coordination between the Department of Anesthesiology and Resuscitation and the Department of Surgery. Postoperatively, both patients recovered well, resumed normal eating and daily activities, were discharged after three days, and scheduled for follow-up after seven days.

Dr. Thanh emphasized: “Early detection and timely intervention not only help prevent future reproductive health complications but also play a crucial role in protecting children’s mental well-being and self-confidence. This is the first congenital buried penis surgery performed at Hoan My Da Lat Hospital. The success of these cases brings great joy to the patients and their families and also demonstrates the hospital’s professional expertise and the advancement of local medical techniques.”

He further advised that parents should closely monitor and promptly identify abnormalities in their children’s genital development – such as an inconspicuous penis – and bring them to medical facilities for timely examination and treatment.