Surgical therapy for urethral prolapse in young girls

Twenty black girls with urethral prolapse, aged 1 1/2 -8 years, were admitted over a 2-year period to the Pediatric Surgical Service that serves a predominantly black community. The most common finding consisted of a painless mass prolapsing through the urethal meatus, associated with bloody staining. Only four of these patients were referred to the Pediatric Surgical Service with the correct diagnosis. Incorrect diagnosis included sarcoma botryoides, hemangioma, urethal caruncle, ureterocele, trauma, alleged rape, or vaginal bleeding of unknown origin. History, physical findings and radiological work-up failed to reveal any identifiable cause for the urethal prolapse. Awareness of the common occurrence of urethal prolapse in black girls, prompt diagnosis, and operative treatment should limit hospitalization to 1 day without significant postoperative complications