Is tubularization of the mobilized urethral plate a better alternative to tubularization of an incised urethral plate for hypospadias repair?

Widening of narrow urethral plates with lateral skin in TIP hypospadias repair: single center series

BACKGROUND

To compare the outcomes of hypospadias repair using tubularized incised plate (TIP) urethroplasty and modified TIP with lateral skin to widen the urethral plate (WTIP).

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Data were obtained from pre-pubertal boys who underwent primary hypospadias repair between May 2018 and July 2023. The cases were divided into two groups; one group underwent TIP with urethral plate ≥ 6 mm width and the other group with urethral plate width < 6 mm underwent WTIP. WTIP urethroplasty was performed by widening incisions on the outer margins of the urethral plate to incorporate penile and glandular skin lateral to the urethral plate to facilitate tubularization. Complication rates and urinary functions were compared.

RESULTS

A total of 157 patients were enrolled in this study. Eighty-eight cases with narrow urethral plate were subjected to WTIP urethroplasty, and the rest were subjected to TIP urethroplasty. The preoperative glans width in WTIP group was less than that in TIP group (P < 0.001), and 44.3% had midshaft meatus in WTIP group compared to 17.4% in TIP group (P < 0.001). However, the incidences of postoperative complications (17.6% vs. 21.6%, P = 0.550) were not statistically different between the TIP and WTIP groups. In addition, both groups did not differ significantly in postoperative uroflowmetry assessment.

CONCLUSIONS

The described technique helps to create an adequately caliber aesthetic neomeatus and facilitates tubularization, especially in hypospadias with a narrow urethral plate. Our data suggest that augmentation of a narrow urethral plate with WTIP has a similar surgical outcome to that of the TIP procedure in patients with a wide urethral plate.

Tubularised incised-plate versus tubularisation of an intact and laterally augmented plate for hypospadias repair: A prospective randomised study

OBJECTIVES

To compare the outcome of hypospadias repair using tubularised incised-plate (TIP) urethroplasty and tubularisation of an intact and laterally augmented urethral plate.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

This prospective randomised study included 370 patients with primary distal hypospadias. All had urethral plate widths of 8-10 mm and a glans of ⩾15 mm. Exclusion criteria were previous repair, circumcision, a wide urethral plate of >10 mm or a narrow plate of <8 mm in diameter, a small glans of <15 mm in diameter, chordee of >30°, and hormonal stimulation. Patients were randomised into two groups: Group 1 (185 patients) underwent TIP urethroplasty and Group 2 (185 patients) underwent tubularisation of the intact plate with lateral augmentation of the urethral plate using penile skin. The follow-up period was 12-28 months.

RESULTS

There were 172 evaluable patients in Group 1 and 177 in Group 2. The urethroplasty was successful in 83.2% and 94.4% in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. Complications occurred in 16.8% in Group 1 and 5.6% in Group 2 (P = 0.001). Meatal stenosis occurred in 7% and 3.4% in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = 0.130). There were statistically significant differences in the wound dehiscence, fistula, and re-operation rates of Group 1 versus Group 2, at 6% versus 0%, 9.8% versus 2.8%, and 13.4% versus 5.6%, respectively. The presence of mild chordee did not affect the complication rate (P = 0.242). The mean (SD) operative time was 56.7 (8.9) min in Group 1 and 93.7 (8.3) min in Group 2 (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSION

The outcome of tubularised intact and laterally augmented plate is better than classical TIP urethroplasty of hypospadias. Further trials are mandatory to extend the indications of the technique.

Hypospadias surgery past, present and future

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

Hypospadias surgery has been in continuous evolution for many years with steadily improving reported results. Despite this many unanswered questions on its cause, management and outcomes remain. Recent research has done little to clarify most matters.

RECENT FINDINGS

There is increasing evidence of a balance of genetic and developmental factors in the development of hypospadias, but there is doubt whether the incidence of hypospadias is increasing or not. Many technical aspects of hypospadias repair and variations of perioperative management seem to have little effect on outcome, whereas the age at which surgery is performed may. Although efforts are being made to relate anatomical findings to outcome, a lack of objective assessment and standardization is a handicap. Severe hypospadias, particularly that associated with significant chordee, remains challenging although strategies for management are being developed. The future may lie in development of autologous tissue culture for these severe cases.

SUMMARY

Further development of hypospadias surgery would benefit from objective, standardized methods of describing anatomy and outcome measures to facilitate effective comparison of techniques and procedures.