Two-stage urethroplasty is a better choice for proximal hypospadias with severe chordee after urethral plate transection: a single-center experience

Grafts vs. flaps: a comparative study of Bracka repair and staged transverse preputial island flap urethroplasty for proximal hypospadias with severe ventral curvature

Introduction

Bracka repair and staged transverse preputial island flap urethroplasty are both significant methods in treating proximal hypospadias. They utilize the flap and graft techniques, respectively, to achieve a satisfactory success rate. This study aimed to compare the outcomes of these 2 methods in the treatment of proximal hypospadias with severe ventral curvature.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 117 cases of proximal hypospadias with severe ventral curvature who had undergone either Bracka repair (n = 62) or staged transverse preputial island flap urethroplasty (n = 55). All operations were performed by a single surgeon, and the choice of method was determined by the surgeon's preference based on his experience. Cosmetic outcome was evaluated with Pediatric Penile Perception Score (PPPS). Patients' characteristics including age, penis length, glans diameter, length of the urethral defect and ventral curvature degree, cosmetic outcomes, and complication rates were all compared.

Results

There was no significant difference in age, penis length, glans diameter, length of the urethral defect, or ventral curvature degree. In the Bracka group, there were 5 patients with fistula, 1 patient with stricture, and 1 case of dehiscence. In the staged transverse preputial island flap urethroplasty group, there were 4 patients with fistula, 1 with stricture, and 2 with diverticulum. The scores of shaft skin and general appearance were consistently higher in the Bracka group than in the staged transverse preputial island flap urethroplasty group. The differences in complication rate and cosmetic outcome were not statistically different (P > 0.05).

Conclusions

Bracka repair and staged transverse preputial island flap urethroplasty are both satisfactory staged surgical options for proximal hypospadias with severe ventral curvature and have similar complication rates. Bracka repair may create a better appearance, but more studies are needed to confirm this finding. Pediatric surgeons should consider additional factors, such as the patient's specific condition, parents' inclination, and personal experience, rather than safety, to make the best choice between the 2 methods.

Complication rates of proximal hypospadias: meta-analyses of four surgical repairs

INTRODUCTION

Proximal hypospadias surgery is impacted by a high complication rate. The goal of this work was to assess the overall composite complication rate, fistula rate and stenosis rate following proximal hypospadias surgery realized according to onlay urethroplasty, Duckett, Koyanagi and Bracka techniques.

METHODS

The databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, SCOPUS, Cochrane Library, the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL) and Sciencedirect were searched. Studies had to report data about the mean age of population, the average duration of patient follow-up and the number of procedures required for surgical treatment of primary and proximal hypospadias. Two independent including one urologist reviewers screened all the articles and selected the articles to be included.

RESULTS

Overall composite complication rates were 32%, 34%, 49%, and 43%, for Onlay urethroplasty, Duckett's tubularized flaps urethroplasty, Koyanagi repair and Bracka 2 stages repair, respectively. Fistula rates were 13%, 18%, 21% and 23% respectively. The heterogeneity of complication rates reported in the different studies was not moderated by age, country, or patient's continent origin.

DISCUSSION

The classifications of complications used in articles were disparate and make comparisons between techniques difficult. The report of post-surgical complications in the literature is often poorly coded and follow-up times were often too short.

CONCLUSION

This meta-analysis attempts to determine to the extent possible, given the serious weaknesses in the hypospadias literature, plausible estimates of complication rates after skin flap urethroplasty. The patched onlay skin flap, the Duckett's tubularized skin flap technique, the Koyanagi's technique, and the Bracka's two-stage urethroplasty procedure lead to very high complication rates. Reported complication rates are comparable across techniques.

A new modified Duckett urethroplasty for repair of proximal hypospadias with severe chordee: outcomes of 133 patients

Background

Despite the continuous development and evolution of surgical methods and techniques, proximal hypospadias remains one of the most challenging issues for pediatric urologists. This study aims to evaluate the indications and postoperative complications of our new modified Duckett urethroplasty.

Methods

A total of 133 patients with proximal hypospadias who underwent repair of the modified Duckett urethroplasty from February 2016 to February 2021 were reviewed. The median age of patients was 3 years (range 1–16). All patients had severe chordee. One senior experienced pediatric urologist performed all the surgeries. Catheter was removed 14 days after the surgery.

Results

The location of the urethral meatus was proximal penile in 26 patients (19.5%), penoscrotal in 60 (45.1%), scrotal in 31 (23.3%), and perineal in 16 (12.0%). The mean length of the urethral defect was 4.5 cm (range 2.5–10). The median duration of follow-up was 46 months (range 8–67). Complications occurred in 31 patients (23.3%), including urethra-cutaneous fistula in 22 (16.5%), urethral stenosis in 7 (5.3%), and urethral diverticulum in 2 (1.5%). No recurrent chordee were found in all cases. All patients who developed complications were treated successfully at our hospital.

Conclusions

Our modified Duckett urethroplasty showed functionally and cosmetically favorable outcomes, with a lower incidence of postoperative complications. To the best of our knowledge, the novel Duckett technique is a feasible and suitable option for patients who suffer from proximal hypospadias with severe chordee and dysplasia of the urethral plate.

Reoperation frequency after transverse preputial Island flap urethroplasty "Duckett's technique" in treatment of severe hypospadias: A single center study

PURPOSE

Transverse Preputial Island Flap Urethroplasty (TPIFU) is one of the most common techniques for treating severe hypospadias. Studies on the reoperation frequency after TPIFU is lacking. In the present study, we reported our clinical outcomes of severe hypospadias treated with one-staged TPIFU and analyzed the operation frequency.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of severe hypospadias patients who underwent one-stage TPIFU from December 2018 to December 2019 in the department of Urology at Beijing Children's Hospital. A stepwise approach was used to manage the curvature. Severe hypospadias was defined as those residual curvature was higher than 30° after degloving. Urethroplasty complications included fistula, urethral stricture, and diverticulum. The short-term cure was identified as no complications occurring for 12 months after the date of last-time surgery. The reoperation rate and operation frequency of TPIFU were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 136 patients who underwent one-stage TPIFU were included in the study. The follow-up after primary urethroplasty ranged from 22 to 50 months. The median age at primary surgery was 22.5 months (range from 13 to 132 months). After primary TPIFU surgery, 53 (39%) patients underwent additional surgical interventions to treat postoperative complications. Among them, 24 patients (17.6%) developed fistula, 17 patients (12.5%) developed urethral stricture and 11 patients (8.1%) developed diverticulum. After the second surgery, five patients remained fistula, five patients remained urethral stricture, and seven patients remained diverticulum. Overall, 61% (85 patients) met the cured standard after the primary operation, and the two operations cure rate was 87.5% (119 patients). 91.2% (124 patients) were cured in three operations.

CONCLUSIONS

Although the complication rates after primary TPIFU were relatively high, more than half of patients achieved short-term cured through a single operation, and the cure rate after two or three operations was acceptable.

Hypospadias treatment by tubulated pedicled preputial island flap according to the DUCKETT technique: single-center experience in sub-Saharan Africa

Background

Hypospadias is the second most frequent congenital condition in boys after cryptorchidism, with an incidence of 0.3–0.7% compared to 2–4% for cryptorchidism. Since the 1980s, single-stage operations, such as the one described by Duckett, have been adopted by some authors. To assess the results of hypospadias surgery by tubed pedicled preputial island flap (DUCKETT’s procedure) in a West African reference hospital.

Methods

This is a retrospective and descriptive study that includes 41 patients with hypospadias who underwent DUCKETT procedure by a tubed pedicled preputial island flap during a period of 12 years. After penile degloving, the curvature has been corrected by skin bridging with or without Nesbit’s plication. The urethroplasty was done according to the DUCKETT procedure.

Results

The patients mean age was 11 ± 8.5 years. All of them had posterior foreskin and a ventral curvature of the penis. The urethral meatus was posterior in 37%. Six of them had a previous hypospadias repair. The complication rate was 58.5%. Wound infection and meatal stenosis occurred in 14.6% and 19.6% of cases, respectively. After a mean follow-up of 20 ± 9 months, total success, relative success and failure rates were 63%, 27% and 10%, respectively.

Conclusion

The DUCKETT procedure is associated with a high complication rate in our daily practice.

Meta-analysis comparing the outcomes of single stage (foreskin pedicled tube) versus two stage (foreskin free graft & foreskin pedicled flap) repair for proximal hypospadias in the last decade

BACKGROUND

Despite many technical advances the debate continues on single versus staged procedures for proximal hypospadias. In this systematic review and meta-analysis we have compared the contemporary outcomes of proximal hypospadias repair: single stage foreskin pedicle tube (FPT) versus two stage foreskin free graft (FFG) and two-stage foreskin pedicled flap (FPF) over the last decade.

METHODS

A systematic literature review of publications in English of the following electronic databases was conducted: Cochrane Database, PUBMED, MEDLINE and EMBASE. The following keywords were used: (proximal) AND (hypospadias) AND (repair OR urethroplasty) AND (outcomes OR complications). The publication date range for studies was from January 2010 to December 2020. Outcomes analyzed were complications like urethro-cutaneous fistula (UCF), glans dehiscence (GD), meatal stenosis (MS), urethral stricture (US), urethral diverticulum (UD), recurrent curvature or residual chordee (RC), buried penis (BP) and poor cosmesis (PC) as per objective assessment scores, or poor graft uptake (PGF) during first stage. We also divided the papers based on case load into two groups: < 5 cases or >5 cases operated per year and compared the post-operative outcomes.

RESULTS

The I 2 statistics for prevalence of total complications showed high heterogeneity with I 2 of 88% for one stage repair and 92% & 98% for two stage repairs. The pooled data from 26 articles covered a total of 2664 patients; mean follow-up of 4.5 years (1.8-14 years). One stage repair (FPT) was used in 680 (25%) patients while two stage repair was used in 1984 (75%) patients. Complications were encountered in 285/680 (42%) of those who underwent single stage repair (FPT) and this was significantly higher (Fishers; p = 0.001) than 414/1984 (21%) complication rate seen in two stage repair. Among the two different techniques of two stage operations over-all complication rate was not significantly different (Fisher's; p = 0.1) between FFG (155/674; 23%) and FPF (259/1310; 20%). FFG was superior to FPF in terms of individual complications UCF, MS, GD and UD. For two-stage FPT and FPF repairs the complication rate significantly reduced (p = 0.01) with increasing case load. For single stage repairs the complication rate remained high despite the increasing case load.

CONCLUSIONS

Two-stage repair of proximal hypospadias had significantly less complications compared to single stage repair. Among two-stage repairs specific complications were significantly less for FFG, although total complications were not significantly different from that seen with FPF. The results of two-stage repairs improved with higher case load supporting the concept of dedicated hypospadias centres.

Comparative study of one-stage and the novel two-stage urethroplasty using the transected urethral plate and transverse preputial island flap (TPIF) for severe hypospadias: a single-center experience

BACKGROUND

To evaluate a novel two-stage method of urethroplasty using a transected urethral plate and transverse preputial island flap (TPIF) for proximal hypospadias with severe chordee.

METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 91 cases of proximal hypospadias, who had undergone either one-stage or two-stage urethroplasty. Comparisons between the two groups were made based on age, glans diameter, the length of the urethral defect, and the rate of complications.

RESULTS

There was no significant difference in age at surgery, glans diameter, and the length of urethral defect between the two groups. In the one-stage group, 18 cases of urinary fistula and one case each of glans dehiscence, urethral diverticulum, and urethral diverticulum with concurrent glans dehiscence, were reported. All patients were treated using urinary fistula repair or urethroplasty. In the novel two-stage group, no cases of urinary fistula were reported after the secondary urethroplasty. However, 4 cases showed dehiscence at the glans, 2 were treated through reoperation but the 2 other 2 patients reoperation. The success rate was 62.50% and 88.57% in the one-stage and two-stage groups, respectively (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Two-stage urethroplasty using a tubularized urethral plate and TPIF can significantly reduce the incidence of urethral fistula of the proximal hypospadias with severe chordee. However, it may increase the number of operations that need to be performed on children who do not need staged surgery. Although we could not prove it through this study, we believe that the necessity of two-stage urethroplasty should be determined based on the development of the glans, the severity of penile curvature, and the length of the urethra defect.

Comparison of Penile Appearance and Outcomes Between Prefabricated Urethra and Pre-implanted Urethral Plate for Treatment of Children With Severe Hypospadias: A Retrospective Study

Objective: To compare the effect of prefabricated urethra and pre-implanted urethral plate in the treatment of severe hypospadias in children. Methods: We retrospectively analyzed the clinical data of 53 patients who diagnosed as severe hypospadias underwent staging urethroplasty from January 2015 to January 2018 in the Department of Pediatric Surgery, First People's Hospital, Zunyi City. The patients were divided into two groups: group A (n = 25) were treated with prefabricated urethra and group B (n = 28) were treated with pre-implanted urethral plate. After the second stage surgery, the ratios of complications such as urethral fistula, urethral stenosis, urethrocele, and recurrence chordee were compared. The penis was scored from meatus, glans, shaft skin, general appearance by the parents, blinded urologists according to The Pediatric Penile Perception Score, and the scores were compared too. Results: All patients were followed up after two stage operations for an average of 28 months. Glans dehiscence occurred in two patients (8%), urethral orifice stenosis occurred in one (4%) and urethral fistula occurred in three (12%) in group A. No urethral stenosis, urethrocele and recurrence chordee was observed. One patient presented urethral plate inactivation (3.6%), two patients presented urethral fistula (7.1%) and one patient presented urethral stenosis (3.6%) in group B. No urethrocele, glans dehiscence and recurrence chordee was observed. The total complication rate in group A was 24 and 14.3% in group B, respectively, and the difference was not statistically significant (P = 0.582). The differences between two groups scored by parents in glans (P = 0.030) was statistically significant. The differences between two groups scored by operators in meatus (P = 0.041), shaft skin (P = 0.000), glans (P = 0.001), and general appearance (P = 0.007) were statistically significant. The differences between two groups scored by counterparts in meatus (P = 0.006), shaft skin (P = 0.003), glans (P = 0.010), and general appearance (P = 0.014) were statistically significant. Conclusion: Both prefabricated urethra and pre-implanted urethral plate methods are suitable for correction of severe hypospadias as staging surgery in children. In general, pre-implanted urethral plate is more worthy of spread because it is much more applied in patients with small glans and achieve good appearance of penis.

Bracka verses Byar's two-stage repair in proximal hypospadias associated with severe chordee: a randomized comparative study

INTRODUCTION

Proximal hypospadias associated with severe chordee represents a major surgical challenge and the debate over its optimal treatment is ongoing. The objective of this study is to compare the outcome of two-stage Bracka and Byar's repair in proximal hypospadias.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This study was conducted from January 2013 to February 2018 in a tertiary care centre. Patients of hypospadias with severe chordee who required urethral plate transection were included in the study. Patients were randomly divided into two groups by simple randomization method. Bracka staged repair was done in Group A and Byar's staged repair in Group B. Postoperatively complications including graft loss, flap necrosis, fistula formation, meatal stenosis, stricture, diverticula formation, residual chordee were noted in both the groups and compared. p value of < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

RESULTS

Over a period of 5 years, 74 patients in group A and 68 patients in group B were operated. Fistula occurred in 6.8% and 10.2% in group A and group B, respectively (p value 0.629). Meatal stenosis was seen in 4% in group A and 3% in group B (p value 0.731). Stricture was seen in 1% in each group (p value 0.339). Diverticula formation was seen in 2% in group B and none of the patient in group A (p value 0.960). None of the patient had recurrence of chordee in either group.

CONCLUSION

Bracka and Byar's two-stage repair have similar postoperative outcome and the choice between the two depends up on the surgeon's choice and experience rather than scientific evidence.

Validity and reliability of a home-based, guardian-conducted video voiding test for voiding evaluation after hypospadias surgery

Purpose

To investigate the validity and reliability of a home-based, guardian-conducted video voiding test for assessing postoperative voiding function after hypospadias surgery.

Materials and Methods

In a single center, patients who had undergone urethroplasty by a single surgeon and postoperative uroflowmetry and video voiding tests conducted between 2008 and 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Urinary stream was categorized into five grades by three pediatric urologists in a blinded manner. The primary outcome was statistical correlation across raters as measured by Spearman correlation coefficient to validate the interpretation of the video voiding test. The secondary outcome was the reliability of the voiding video test compared with maximum urinary flow rate assessed by uroflowmetry.

Results

Thirty-one patients with hypospadias were enrolled. The patients' average ages were 12.3±3.2 months (range, 8–21 months) and 42.8±3.9 months (range, 35–48 months) at the time of surgery and voiding video tests, respectively. Hypospadias was anterior, penile, and proximal in 1 (3.2%), 18 (58.1%), and 12 (38.7%) patients, respectively. The number of patients with each voiding stream grade was as follows: very poor, 4; poor, 4; fair, 13; good, 4; and very good, 6. All intraclass correlation coefficients of the stream grade among the three observers were >0.95. Correlation between the maximum flow rate obtained by use of conventional uroflowmetry and the video voiding stream grade was validated (rho 0.778, p<0.001).

Conclusions

The home-based guardian-conducted video voiding test is easy to perform and the present results demonstrate its validity and reliability for assessing patients' post-urethroplasty voiding pattern.

Comparative study of urethroplasties to reduce urethral strictures in patients with severe hypospadias

Objective

Transverse island pedicle flap (TIPF) plus transected urethral plate-preserving urethroplasty is increasingly used for treatment of severe hypospadias. We aimed to reduce the occurrence of urethral strictures in patients undergoing such procedures.

Methods

Sixty-five patients with severe hypospadias were enrolled. Thirty-two patients underwent onlay-tube-onlay urethroplasty (Group A), and 33 patients underwent modified Duplay urethroplasty (Group B). Postoperative complications were recorded, including fistulas, urethral strictures, and diverticula.

Results

Three patients (9.4%) in Group A and 10 patients (30.3%) in group B had urethrocutaneous fistulas. Three patients (9.4%) in Group A and 0 patients (0%) in Group B had urethral strictures. No patient in the two groups had symptoms of diverticulum or penile chordee. The results of uroflowmetry were better in Group B than Group A, when comparing uroflow patterns.

Conclusions

TIPF plus transected urethral plate-preserving urethroplasty can lower the occurrence of stricture, which is a challenging complication. The occurrence of stricture was lower in patients who underwent modified Duplay urethroplasty, and neourethral function and quality were better in these patient. Thus, this modified procedure can be used for treatment of severe hypospadias.

Modified tubularized incised plate urethroplasty reduces the risk of fistula and meatal stenosis for proximal hypospadias: a report of 63 cases

PURPOSE

To report the feasibility of modified tubularized incised plate (TIP) urethroplasty technique for proximal hypospadias in 63 cases.

METHODS

From January 2004 to March 2010, 63 patients underwent one-stage TIP urethroplasty (modified Snodgrass technique repair) using 2-3 of three covering layers (corpus spongiosum, dartos, and tunica vaginalis). The primary meatus was proximal penile, penoscrotal, scrotal, and perineal in 38, 13, 10, and 2 patients, respectively. All patients had chordee that was corrected with dorsal plication. Glanuloplasty was performed in all cases. Complications and cosmetic results were documented after 6-72 months of follow-up.

RESULTS

A total of 63 boys with proximal hypospadias underwent Snodgrass hypospadias repair at a mean age of 8.5 months (range 6-54). Mean operative time was 210 ± 35 min. Patients were followed up with 6-month intervals for up to 6 years postoperatively. After 6 years of follow-up, nine urethrocutaneous fistulae, four bleeding, four meatal stenoses, and one urethral stricture were reported. Cosmetic result was satisfactory according to parent's opinion and another surgeon. No residual chordee was observed in any cases (without artificial correction).

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, this preliminary report can be estimated as an alternative technique with acceptable complication and cosmetic results for proximal hypospadias correction.

Current challenges with proximal hypospadias: We have a long way to go

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Proximal hypospadias repair has continued to challenge the pediatric urologist despite great efforts to develop better techniques for repair.

METHODS

In this article, we review the literature regarding modern proximal hypospadias repair approaches and outcomes. We also present our current approach to proximal hypospadias repair surgery and outcome tracking. Finally, we review the literature on surgical outcome tools that may help us standardize research.

RESULTS

Proximal hypospadias repair has significant variability in technique. Overall modern data would suggest that we require great improvement in our surgical management of this challenging problem. Though tools exist to begin to standardize the reporting of hypospadias outcomes, collaborative efforts are still required for future research.

CONCLUSION

Future research in proximal hypospadias repair needs to utilize new reporting tools as well as engage in collaborative efforts between institutions.

A new modification of the Duckett technique for one-stage repairing urethral plate transected hypospadias: Another option for severe hypospadias?

OBJECTIVES

The study aimed to evaluate the new modification of the Duckett technique in decreasing the incidence of urethral strictures for urethral plate transected hypospadias and also explored its clinical application.

METHODS

Thirty-three patients (aged 7 months to 12 years, mean age 2.8 years) who underwent repair of primary hypospadias using the new one-stage urethroplasty were enrolled. Clinical data, including cosmetic and its complications, and uroflowmetry data were documented. Uroflowmetry data of 19 patients who underwent Duckett urethroplasty were used as a comparison.

RESULTS

The length of the urethral defect ranged from 2.5 to 5.0 cm. The postoperative follow-up was 14-30 months. Ten patients (30.3%) had fistulas; no patients had strictures or diverticula. All ten fistulas were small (<0.5 cm) and repaired with fistula repairing operation. The appearance of the penis remained satisfactory, and the meatus was located in the normal anatomic position. Among 17 patients who underwent uroflowmetry, all patients were bell-shaped or platforms, and Q _max was 7.37 ± 2.45 ml/s. Compared with 14 of 19 patients who underwent Duckett urethroplasty, the urethral function achieved with new one-stage urethroplasty was significantly better (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

The incidence of strictures was dramatically lowered in patients with proximal hypospadias. Small fistulas are common complications and can be repaired easily. Based on the uroflow pattern results, the quality of neourethra and function of it were better than Duckett urethroplasty. These preliminary results suggested that the modified procedure seems to be reliable and can be a suitable option for proximal hypospadias.

Our experience of proximal hypospadias repair using the Cloutier-Bracka technique at the Gynaeco-Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital, Yaounde-Cameroon

BACKGROUND

In parts of Africa, routine circumcision is practised and sometimes even on children with hypospadias. The lack of preputial foreskin renders urethroplasty more difficult and often requires to use of a mucosal graft as described by Bracka.

OBJECTIVE

The authors describe their experience of hypospadias repair using Bracka's technique.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Over a period of 5 years, 100 cases of proximal hypospadias were operated in our institution. All patients aged 0-18 years who had already been circumcised were included in this study.

RESULTS

The outcome of the 12 cases operated according to Bracka's technique was analysed. The mean age was 11.5 years. The ectopic meatus was penoscrotal in three cases, scrotal in one case and perineal in eight cases. After reconstruction, the new meatus was sutured at the top of the glans in one case, at the prepuce in seven cases and at the penile midshaft in one case. The main complications noted were surgical site infection, wound dehiscence, residual chordee and urethrocutaneous fistula. No neourethral stenosis nor uretrocele was recorded.

DISCUSSION

The buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty as described by Bracka is associated with a lower risk of meatal strictures compared to other free mucosal grafts. The buccal mucosa is easier to harvest and causes less scarring than bladder mucosa.

CONCLUSION

Repair of severe hypospadias remains a challenge for paediatric surgeons. The functional and cosmetic outcomes depend on the choice of the donor site for the graft and objective assessment of successful reconstruction criteria during follow-up.

The Effect of Staged Transverse Preputial Island Flap Urethroplasty for Proximal Hypospadias with Severe Chordee

PURPOSE

We compare the effects of staged tranverse preputial island flap urethroplasty and the Byars 2-stage procedure in patients with proximal hypospadias and severe chordee.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We studied 87 consecutive children referred for proximal hypospadias with severe chordee between March 2011 and March 2014. Of the cases 42 were repaired with staged tranverse preputial island flap (group 1) and 45 were managed by 2-stage Byars urethroplasty (group 2). Mean ± SD age at first stage surgery was 26.6 ± 13.3 months in group 1 and 24.8 ± 14.7 months in group 2. Postoperative complications in both groups were assessed regarding fistulas, urethral strictures, diverticula, meatal stenosis and glanular dehiscence.

RESULTS

After the second stage 2 patients (4.8%) in group 1 and 10 (23.2%) in group 2 had urethrocutaneous fistulas (p <0.05). One patient (2.4%) in group 1 and 2 patients (4.4%) in group 2 had urethral strictures (p >0.05). All patients with stricture were cured by repeated dilation and no patient required reoperation. One patient (2.4%) in group 1 and no patient in group 2 had diverticulum (p >0.05). No patient in either group had signs or symptoms of meatal stenosis or residual chordee. Three patients (7.1%) in group 1 and 12 (26.7%) in group 2 needed reoperation (p <0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Two-stage urethroplasty, particularly tranverse preputial island flap partial urethroplasty, is appropriate for treating patients with proximal hypospadias and severe chordee. Use of the tranverse preputial island flap can decrease complications associated with the second stage and significantly improve the success rate.

Tissue transfer techniques in reconstructive urology

Tissue transfer techniques are an essential part of the reconstructive urologist's armamentarium. Flaps and graft techniques are widely used in genital and urethral reconstruction. A graft is tissue that is moved from a donor site to a recipient site without its native blood supply. The main types of grafts used in urology are full thickness grafts, split thickness skin grafts and buccal mucosa grafts. Flaps are transferred from the donor site to the recipient site on a pedicle containing its native blood supply. Flaps can be classified based on blood supply, elevation methods or the method of transfer. The most used flaps in urology include penile, preputial, and scrotal skin. We review the various techniques used in reconstructive urology and the outcomes of these techniques.