Meatorrhaphy is a surgical procedure that involves suturing the nasal meatus. It is pronounced [mee-uh-tawr-uh-fee], with the stress on the third syllable. The word is spelled using the Greek root word "meatus", which refers to a passage or channel, and the suffix "-rrhaphy", to denote a surgical repair or joining of tissues. The correct spelling of complex medical terms can be challenging as they often combine multiple roots, prefixes, and suffixes, making it important to understand their phonetic transcription.
Meatorrhaphy is a medical term that refers to a surgical procedure in which the opening of the urinary meatus is surgically closed or repaired. The urinary meatus is the external opening of the urethra, through which urine is excreted from the body. This procedure is typically performed to address certain urological conditions or injuries that affect the urethra.
Meatorrhaphy can be necessary in cases of hypospadias, a congenital condition in which the urinary meatus is not located at the tip of the penis, as is typical, but rather on the underside of the penis. In such cases, the surgical closure or repair of the meatus is often performed to improve the functionality and appearance of the penis.
The procedure may also be required due to trauma or injury that has damaged the meatus, leading to urinary dysfunction or difficulty in passing urine. By surgically repairing or closing the meatus, normal urinary function can be restored, and further complications associated with the injury can be prevented.
Meatorrhaphy is typically performed by a urologist or a specialist in urogenital surgery. The specific technique used may vary depending on the individual case and the extent of the condition or injury being addressed. In some instances, additional procedures, such as those to correct abnormal curvature of the penis, may be performed along with meatorrhaphy. Proper post-operative care and follow-up are crucial to ensure successful healing and optimal outcomes.
Closing by suture the wound made in a previous meatotomy.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word "meatorrhaphy" is derived from two Greek roots: "meatus", meaning "passage" or "opening", and "rhaphē", meaning "suture" or "to sew". In medical terminology, "meatorrhaphy" refers to the surgical repair or suturing of a meatus, which can be any natural or surgically created opening in the body, such as a urinary or ear meatus.