Operative correction of intersexual genitals in children.

In intersex the external genitalia should be corrected operatively before the 2nd year of life. In patients with the adrenogenital syndrome with a low opening of the vagina into the urogenital sinus, a plastic operation on the vagina and displacement of the clitoris can be carried out in one operation. The operative technique is described. In cases where the vagina opens high in the urogenital sinus, the operative technique of Hendren and Crawford (1969), with transplantation of the vaginal introitus into the perineum in combination with displacement of the clitoris, is advised. In 7 patients, partial vaginal aplasia was observed. The abdominoperineal operative technique for the correction of this malformation is described. In intersex patients where male external genitalia are desired, the phallus is straightened at the first operation and a hypospadias operation using the technique described by Denis Browne is performed at a second sitting. More than 130 patients with intersex have been operatively corrected.