Midterm outcome of the modified Bretteville technique for hypospadias reconstruction

The glandular resection and central embedding modification (GRACE) in Duckett and Barcat hypospadias repair

INTRODUCTION

We recently reported a novel modification of the Barcat technique termed glandular resection and central embedding (GRACE). Here, we report results from a large patient population and apply this modification also to Duckett hypospadias repair.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated 488 patients who had undergone primary or secondary hypospadias repair by Barcat or Duckett using the GRACE modification.

RESULTS

For all GRACE repairs, cosmetic appearance was favorable regarding meatal position, shape and overall appearance. Maximum and average flow were above the 5th percentile in at least 95%. In Barcat and Duckett repairs, urethrocutaneous fistulas occurred in 5 and 30.7%, urethral strictures in 3 and 20.8%, and meatal strictures in 5 and 25.3%, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The initially reported favorable cosmetic and functional results were confirmed both for Duckett and Barcat repair using the GRACE modification. Complication rates were favorably low for Barcat and higher, but consistent with published results, for Duckett repair.

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.