Epispadias is part of the overall bladder exstrophy complex, although it can occur in isolation as a lesser form of exstrophy, with or without some involvement of the bladder opening (called the bladder neck). Epispadias is characterized by the failure of the urethra to close properly, allowing the inner lining to be flattened and exposed on the top surface instead of in the underside part of the penis or in girls allowing the inner lining of the urethra to be open below a clitoris that is then split down the middle.

Epispadias requires surgical repair to allow for proper urinary flow as well as to restore the appearance of the external genitalia. Epispadias is slightly more common in males, occurring in one in every 110,000 births in boys and one in every 480,000 births in females.

Children with Epispadias are usually diagnosed at birth or in utero via ultrasound, and the treatment usually requires surgical repair to ensure urinary continence and avoid any abnormal leakage. Some children may require multiple surgeries to achieve proper urinary flow as well as avoid complications of urinary tract infections and kidney damage.