Effect of the depth and width of the urethral plate on tubularized incised plate urethroplasty

PURPOSE: We determined the effect of the depth and width of the urethral groove on tubularized incised plate urethroplasty for distal hypospadias. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 48 patients who underwent tubularized incised plate urethroplasty for distal hypospadias between September 1996 and December 1998 for whom preoperative evaluation of the depth and width of the urethral groove was available. Patients were examined by an independent clinician a median of 28 months after surgery when the neourethra was calibrated and urinary stream assessed. RESULTS: Of the 48 patients 46 were available for clinical examination. The urinary stream was straight in 40 boys and angled in 8, while none sprayed. Urethral fistula developed in 6 patients with a urethral plate of less than 8 mm. wide (p = 0.001). The urethral groove was deep in 13 cases, moderate in 20 and shallow in 15. There were no differences among these 3 groups in regard to urinary stream direction or fistula rate. Of the boys with a shallow urethral groove 6 (40%) have a neourethral caliber of 6Fr or less versus 3 (15%) with a moderate and 0 with a deep groove. This difference was statistically significant (p = 0.028). Each patient in whom meatal stenosis developed had a shallow urethral groove. CONCLUSIONS: Urethral groove depth appears to influence neourethral caliber after tubularized incised plate urethroplasty. A shallow groove predisposes to a narrower neourethra and meatal stenosis subsequently. We observed no evidence that incising the urethral plate increases the final urethral diameter. Urethral fistula after tubularized incised plate urethroplasty was associated with an initially narrow urethral plate.     

Tubularized incised plate urethroplasty: 5 years' experience

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the results of tubularized incised plate (TIP) urethroplasty in a series of primary hypospadias repairs. PATIENTS AND METHOD: The medical records of 360 children (Mean age: 4.3 years, range: 2-14 years) with primary hypospadias undergoing TIP urethroplasty repair and treatment of complications were reviewed. A good result is a direct urinary steam through a slit and vertically oriented meatus and mild angled urinary stream through a slightly regressed meatus is a satisfactory result. RESULTS: The sum of good (74%) and satisfactory results (3%) was the overall success rate (77%) which was increased to 95% after a second surgical procedure for the treatment of complications. In 30 patients with single fistula (8%), fistula healed spontaneously in 2 patients and 20 patients had successful fistula closure. Redo TIP urethroplasty (n = 30) was performed for dehiscence (n = 15, 3%), neourethral stricture (n = 3, 1%) and multiple fistula with meatal stenosis (n = 12, 3%). The complication rate after redo TIP urethroplasty is 30%. Twenty-four (7%) patients underwent meatoplasty for meatal stenosis. CONCLUSION: TIP urethroplasty can be used to repair primary hypospadias. After a learning curve and attention to surgical details, cosmetic and functional outcome become excellent. Redo TIP urethroplasty can be performed in the treatment of complications.     

Tubularized incised-plate urethroplasty for proximal hypospadias

OBJECTIVE: To report the experience of one surgeon using tubularized incised-plate (TIP) urethroplasty to repair proximal hypospadias in a consecutive series of boys. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of 33 consecutive patients with midshaft to scrotal hypospadias undergoing TIP repair by one surgeon were reviewed. Dorsal plication was used as necessary for penile straightening, to preserve the urethral plate. Standard TIP urethroplasty was undertaken, and the follow-up included the selective use of neourethral calibration and urethroscopy. RESULTS: Plication was necessary in 18 (55%) patients. The incised plate had a supple appearance in all but two boys. The mean (range) follow-up was 9 (1-48) months and included calibration in 16 (48%) and urethroscopy in 13 (39%) patients. Complications were noted in 11 (33%) boys, of whom seven (21%) developed small fistulae. The two patients in whom the incised plate appeared unhealthy had dehiscence of the repair and contracture of the neourethra with recurrent penile curvature, respectively. There was one meatal stenosis and one short neourethral stricture. CONCLUSIONS: TIP urethroplasty can be used to repair proximal hypospadias in the absence of severe penile curvature, and if the incised urethral plate has a supple appearance. As with distal hypospadias repair, the procedure creates a normal-appearing penis with a slit-like meatus.     

Tubularized incised plate urethroplasty for distal and mid-penile hypospadias

Tubularized incised plate urethroplasty was performed to repair 20 distal and 5 mid-penile hypospadias cases. In distal hypospadias repair meatal stenosis occurred in 1 patient and urethral fistula in another. The overall complication rate in this group was thus 10%. Among midpenile hypospadias cases meatal stenosis was observed in 1 (20%) patient. As a conclusion, tubularized incised plate urethroplasty was found to be a successful method for treating distal hypospadias and encouraging results were obtained in mid-penile hypospadias cases.     

Re-operative hypospadias repair using the Snodgrass incised plate urethroplasty

OBJECTIVE: To retrospectively assess the results of tubularized incised plate (Snodgrass) urethroplasty in a series of re-operative hypospadias repairs in children. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study comprised a follow-up (from 1996 until 2000) of 13 patients (mean age 7.5 years, range 13 months to 27 years) who had at least one previous hypospadias repair and who then underwent a reconstruction using the Snodgrass repair. In all cases the urethroplasty was covered with an additional layer of subcutaneous tissue. The original location, associated complications and results were recorded. In some cases, the long-term follow up was conducted by telephone. RESULTS: Associated complications before the Snodgrass repair included urethral stricture in two, fistula in three and persistent chordee in one patient. The mean (range) follow-up was 22 (9-34) months. The cosmetic results were excellent, with two complications (one patient with a glans dehiscence and a urethrocutaneous fistula, and a second with meatal stenosis). The remaining patients required no further procedures and were voiding normally at the last follow-up. CONCLUSION: Excellent cosmetic and functional results can be obtained using the Snodgrass incised plate urethroplasty for re-operative hypospadias repair. Only one patient in this series had an initial operation in which the urethral plate was previously incised. Therefore, caution should be used when considering an incised plate urethroplasty in these patients.     

INLAY-ONLAY FLAP URETHROPLASTY FOR HYPOSPADIAS AND URETHRAL STRICTURE REPAIR

Purpose

The absence of a segment of the urethral plate renders the onlay urethroplasty procedure impossible. The plate may be too short (in hypospadias), or sacred after previous repair or due to a dense urethral stricture. A modified approach with restoration of urethral plate continuity is proposed instead of the tubularized island flap associated with higher complication rates.

Material and Methods

In 12 of 20 patients with a partially deficient urethral plate the inlay-onlay preputial island flap was used. The wider part of the flap is inlaid in place of the missing plate and anastomosed to the residual plate. Formation of the urethra is then completed with standard onlay overlapping of the flap. In another 8 patients the combined (partially tubularized in advance) tube-onlay flap was used.

Results

The inlay-onlay flap technique was used in 3 new hypospadias patients, in 4 with a scarred, hair-bearing plate after previous operations and in 5 with virtually no urethral plate because of a dense urethral stricture. No urethral complications were encountered. Of the 8 patients undergoing the combined tube-onlay repair 3 had complications, including meatal stenosis (2) and partial dehiscence (1).

Conclusions

Inlay-onlay flap urethroplasty allows correction of complex cases of hypospadias or urethral stricture with a partially deficient urethral plate in 1 stage with a low complication rate.     

Tubularized incised-plate urethroplasty for secondary hypospadias surgery

PURPOSE: Reoperation for failed hypospadias has been considered to be seriously bothersome because abundant penile skin does not tend to remain for urethroplasty or for penile shaft skin coverage. In this study, the tubularization of incised urethral plate was employed for those who had no excessive penile skin after failure of hypospadias repair. METHODS: Five patients with hypospadias underwent tubularized incised-plate urethroplasty as salvage surgery. The surgical techniques necessary for the performance of the reoperation were not different from those for the primary repair. The urethral plate was incised sufficiently deeply in its midline from the tip of the glans to the regressed meatus. The incised urethral plate was tubularized without tension over a catheter of an appropriate size. RESULTS: Four of those who underwent secondary tubularized incised-plate urethroplasty were successfully repaired without complications. A urethrocutaneous fistula occurred at the corona in the remaining patient. CONCLUSIONS: The absence of preputial skin in reoperative cases makes tubularized incised-plate urethroplasty the ideal option, although the series was small and postoperative duration is still short. In addition, this procedure can give excellent functional and cosmetic results even in patients who require revisional hypospadias surgery.     

Tubularized-incised urethral plate urethroplasty: is regular dilatation necessary for success?

OBJECTIVES: To report the results of the tubularized-incised urethral plate repair of hypospadias. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Twenty-seven patients (mean age 8 years, range 6-18) had their hypospadias corrected using the tubularized-incised urethral plate technique. Five patients had glanular, 16 had coronal, and two had recurrent hypospadias after a failed Mathieu repair, and four patients required a second-stage repair. The urethral plate was incised in the midline and tubularized over a suitably sized stent. In patients who required second-stage repair a Thiersch-Duplay neourethra was constructed from the hypospadiac orifice to the corona and the glanular urethra was constructed by tubularization of the incised urethral plate. RESULTS: The functional and cosmetic results were excellent. Of the first seven patients, four had a small fistula associated with meatal stenosis. By regular dilatation of the glanular urethra, all fistulae resolved spontaneously. Dilatation was instituted in all the remaining patients and no fistula or meatal stenosis occurred. Other complications included haematoma formation in one patient, urinary tract infection in another and frequent bladder spasm in two. CONCLUSIONS: The tubularized-incised urethral plate urethroplasty is a simple and versatile technique that provides an excellent cosmetic appearance of the glans. It can be applied not only for the primary repair of distal hypospadias, but also for re-operation of recurrent hypospadias. The technique is ideal for constructing a glanular urethra when the Thiersch-Duplay operation is used to repair posterior hypospadias. Regular urethral dilatation is important in preventing adhesions between both sides of the incised plate, which can result in meatal stenosis and fistula.     

Tubularized incised plate urethroplasty: expanded use in primary and repeat surgery for hypospadias

PURPOSE: We evaluated the impact of tubularized incised plate urethroplasty on primary and repeat hypospadias repair. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of all boys who underwent hypospadias repair at our institution during a recent 3-year period. The level of the hypospadias defect, technique of repair, primary repair versus reoperation, age at surgery and complications were recorded. RESULTS: A total of 520 hypospadias repairs were done from May 1996 through June 1999. We began to perform tubularized incised plate urethroplasty in November 1996. During the ensuing consecutive 32 months 181 primary and 25 repeat hypospadias repairs were done using this technique. Mean patient age at surgery was 22 months (range 3 months to 30 years). During the 6 months immediately before we began to use this method the Mathieu flip-flap procedure was the most commonly performed technique, accounting for 38% of all hypospadias repairs. In contrast, during the last 6 months reviewed tubularized incised plate urethroplasty accounted for 63% of all repairs, including 41 of 65 primary operations (63%) and 4 of 6 reoperations (67%), while no Mathieu procedures were performed. Postoperative followup was 6 to 38 months for tubularized incised plate repair. Overall meatal stenosis and a urethrocutaneous fistula developed in 1 and 14 boys, respectively (7% complication rate). CONCLUSIONS: Tubularized incised plate urethroplasty has become the preferred technique of primary and repeat hypospadias repair at our institution. The technique has few complications as well as proved success and versatility that continues to expand its applicability and popularity.     

保留尿道板手术修复尿道下裂术后尿瘘

目的 总结保留尿道板手术修复尿道下裂术后尿瘘的l临床经验.方法 尿道下裂术后尿瘘患儿224例.患儿术后时间均>6个月,尿瘘瘘口直径>1.0 cm.应用尿道板切开卷管尿道成形术(Snodgrass)102例,年龄2～16岁,平均3.7岁;Duplay尿道成形手术86例,年龄2～14岁,平均3.5岁;Onlay岛状包皮瓣尿道成形术修复20例;尿道口基底皮瓣法(Flip-Flap)修复16例.结果 224例术后随访均≥6个月.Snodgrass手术102例,成功86例(84.3%),发生尿道狭窄3例,尿瘘复发13例;Duplay手术86例,成功75例(87.2%),发生尿道狭窄2例,尿瘘复发9例.2组手术疗效比较差异无统计学意义(P>0.05).Onlay手术20例,成功19例,尿瘘复发1例.Flip-Flap手术16例,成功14例,尿瘘复发2例.结论 尿道下裂术后尿瘘修补方法应根据患儿的具体条件选择.Snodgrass尿道成形术成功率与Duplay手术相当,可以更多应用,保证阴茎外观满意.     

A prospective randomized comparative study on the use of ventral subcutaneous flap to prevent fistulas in the Snodgrass repair for distal hypospadias

We evaluated the importance of urethral coverage using vascularized subcutaneous ventral flaps for the prevention of fistulas in patients undergoing distal hypospadias repair. Our prospective study included 130 patients, aged 9 months to 12 years, who underwent distal hypospadias repair using tubularized incised plate urethroplasty (TIPU), from January 2001 through January 2006. Patients were assigned to one of two groups by a computer-generated random selection: 65 patients underwent non-covered urethroplasty (NCU group); another group of 65 patients underwent covered urethroplasty (CU group) with a vascularized subcutaneous ventral flap. The results were evaluated by two pediatric surgeons unaware of the type of treatment each patient had undergone. Successful results were achieved in 99/130 patients (76.2%). We recorded 31 (23.8%) post-operative complications: 20 patients presented with a urethrocutaneous fistula (15 patients in the NCU group and 5 in the CU group); five with urethral stenosis (3 in the NCU and 2 in the CU group); and six with skin dehiscence of the preputioplasty (3 patients in each group). We analyzed the results using the χ² test and the only statistically significant difference between the two groups (p < 0.05) was in terms of incidence of fistulas. Urethrocutaneous fistulas seem to be the most frequent complication of distal hypospadias after TIPU repair. Urethral coverage should be part of the Snodgrass procedure because it significantly reduces the formation of fistulas. A well-vascularized subcutaneous ventral flap represents, in our experience, a simple and optimal choice for the prevention of fistulas.     

Effect of urethral plate characteristics on tubularized incised plate urethroplasty

PURPOSE: We determined outcomes of tubularized incised plate urethroplasty based on preoperative urethral plate configuration or width. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Records of consecutive prepubertal boys undergoing tubularized incised plate distal hypospadias repair were reviewed. The urethral plate was characterized as flat, cleft or deep, and results in each group were noted. In addition, the width of the plate after separation from the glans wings before midline incision was measured in some patients, with outcomes determined according to those less than 8 mm versus 8 mm or greater. RESULTS: Of 159 patients plate configuration was recorded in 143, widths in 48 and both in 46. Outcomes were determined at a mean of 8 months postoperatively. Overall, there were no cases of meatal stenosis and fistulas occurred in 3 patients (2%). No significant difference in results was predicted by plate configuration or width. CONCLUSIONS: Tubularized incised plate urethroplasty for distal hypospadias repair has a low complication rate regardless of urethral plate configuration or width. Therefore, this procedure is potentially applicable in all cases of primary distal hypospadias.     

尿道板纵切卷管法和加盖岛状皮瓣法尿道成形术治疗尿道下裂的比较

目的总结尿道板纵切卷管法（TIP）与加盖岛状皮瓣法（OIF）尿道成形术治疗尿道下裂的疗效,并对其进行比较,探讨术式选择的条件。方法回顾性总结42例TIP术和26例OIF术治疗尿道下裂的临床资料。TIP术组年龄2～13岁,平均4．76岁;其中Ⅱ型3例,Ⅳ型1例。38例为初次行尿道成形术者,4例为初次尿道成形术失败、再次行尿道成形术者。OIF术组年龄2～10岁,平均4．72岁,其中Ⅱ型23例,Ⅲ型3例,均为初次行尿道成形术者。结果TIP术平均手术时间80min,有尿瘘7例,阴茎头裂开1例,无尿道狭窄,但有尿道外口狭窄1例,3例再次尿道成形术者未发生并发症;OIF术平均手术时间115min,有尿瘘5例,阴茎头裂开l例,无尿道狭窄。两种手术方法的尿瘘、尿道狭窄、阴茎头裂开、一次手术成功率,差异无统计学意义（P〉0．05）,而两组平均手术时间的差异有统计学意义（P〈0．05）。结论TIP与OIF尿道成形术可用于阴茎头冠状沟、阴茎体、阴茎阴囊型尿道下裂的治疗,TIP术操作简单,且更适用于初次手术失败、需再次行尿道成形术的病例。对于阴茎发育差,尿道板条件不好的初次手术病例,仍以选择OIF术为宜。     

Clinical review of the 'Snodgrass' hypospadias repair

BACKGROUND: Snodgrass first described the tubularized, incised plate (TIP) urethroplasty for distal hypospadias repair in 1994 based on the concept of hingeing the incised urethral plate. The use of this technique allows a vertically orientated glanular meatus to be produced. A retrospective review of patients who had this procedure for the primary repair of distal hypospadias at New Children's Hospital was performed to objectively assess the cosmetic and functional outcomes of this technique. METHODS: All patients having a TIP urethroplasty for the primary repair of distal hypospadias between 1996 and 1998 were requested to attend for review in an independent clinic. The parents were interviewed and the patient was examined to determine meatal location, meatal size, glanular configuration, urinary stream, straightness of erections, cosmesis, and the presence or absence of cutaneous sinus tracts or a urethral fistula. RESULTS: Sixty patients were identified. Forty-nine were reviewed in person, 10 were reviewed by telephone and one could not be traced. The median age at surgery was 13 months (range: 6-144 months), with a median follow up of 27 months (range: 2-33 months). A glanular meatus was achieved in 57 patients (97%) and a conical glanular configuration was achieved in 58 patients (98%). The urinary stream and erections were straight in 54 (89%) and 58 patients (98%), respectively. Suture sinus tracts were present in 14 (24%) patients. Six patients (10%) developed a urethral fistula and three (5%) developed meatal stenosis. A good or satisfactory final cosmetic and functional result was achieved in 58 patients (98%). CONCLUSIONS: The results of TIP urethroplasty are satisfactory at New Children's Hospital with the benefit of a cosmetic final outcome similar to a circumcised penis.     

Repair of hypospadias complications using the tubularized, incised plate urethroplasty

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: Secondary procedures to correct complications after hypospadias repair remain challenging especially for "hypospadias cripples." The tubularized, incised plate urethroplasty was first introduced by Snodgrass for the repair of primary hypospadias in 1993. The authors used this procedure to correct the complications after hypospadias repair in patients who had no abundant local skin flaps to be used for a neourethra. METHODS: Six patients underwent tubularized, incised plate urethroplasty for the correction of complications of hypospadias repair performed the previous year, including a large urethrocutaneous fistula (n = 1) and disruption of the neourethra (n = 5). Prior surgical procedures included transverse island tube urethroplasty in 4 cases and 2-stage urethroplasty in 2 cases. The average patient age at the time of secondary procedure was 4.6 years (range, 1 to 12 years). RESULTS: The mean follow-up period was 6 months (range, 2 months to 1 year). All the patients obtained a functional neourethra with a vertical, slitlike meatus. A small fistula developed in one child and mild meatal retraction in another. CONCLUSIONS: The tubularized, incised plate urethroplasty offers few complications and good cosmetic results. The authors recommend its use for patients who have had repeated surgeries for hypospadias repair, especially those in whom only limited local skin flaps can be utilized for a neourethra.     

The Concept of Tubularized Incised Plate Hypospadias Repair for Different Types of Hypospadias

Purpose: Using the concept of tubularized incised plate (TIP) urethroplasty technique for proximal, distal, primary, secondary and complicated cases of hypospadias. Material and methods: From June 2002 to December 2003 TIP urethroplasty was performed in 15 patients between the age of 1–18-year-old with penosecrotal, mid shaft and subcoronal hypospadias. In 13 of them TIP urethroplasty used as the primary repair while in two of them as secondary repair. Results: No clinically important complications were observed in those boys who underwent primary reconstruction. One of them had meatal stenosis at the early postoperative period which was corrected by dilatation of the external meatus by feeding catheter at intervals up to 2 months postoperatively. Three boys had very narrow fistula which just allow leak of few drops of urine through urination. One boy with penoscrotal hypospadias who underwent two-stage repair had fistula. Conclusion: The concept of TIP urethroplasty is the procedure of choice for the treatment of proximal hypospadias and, it seems to be suitable for distal, secondary and even complicated hypospadias reconstruction. The advantages of this procedure include its simplicity, low complication rates and very good appearance of the glance with normal meatus.     

Tubularized incised plate urethroplasty for proximal hypospadias

OBJECTIVES: Numerous surgical procedures have been used to correct distal hypospadias. Among them, the tubularized incised plate urethroplasty (Snodgrass procedure) has become a mainstay for the repair of distal hypospadias. We applied the procedure to proximal hypospadias. METHODS: Three patients with proximal hypospadias underwent a tubularized incised urethral plate urethroplasty. The location of the meatus was proximal penis in one, penoscrotal margin in one and scrotum in one. A perimeatal incision was made and the two paramedian incisions were extended to the tip of the glans. The skin of the penile shaft was dissected free to the penoscrotal junction and bands of fibrous tissue were excised until the corpus spongiosum proximal to the meatus was completely exposed inside the scrotum. The urethral plate was then incised in its midline from the tip of the glans to the hypospadiac meatus and was tubularized without tension. The neourethra was covered with a pedicle of subcutaneous tissue dissected from the dorsal skin or the scrotal skin to avoid fistula formation. RESULTS: The tubularized incised urethral plate urethroplasty was carried out successfully in one stage on three patients with proximal hypospadias. CONCLUSIONS: The Snodgrass procedure is suitable for correcting hypospadias in patients with a healthy urethral plate. It is also suitable in patients with proximal hypospadias.     

A combined tubularized/onlay graft technique for total correction of severe hypospadias.

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE: A combined tubularized/onlay graft technique is described for the complete correction of chordee with urethroplasty in a single stage in cases of severe hypospadias. METHODS: Twenty-two patients with severe hypospadias ranging in age from 9 months to 11 years underwent single-stage correction using a technique developed by the author. In this method, chordee is first completely excised by removing all fibrotic tissue both proximal and distal to the urethral orifice, preserving the meatal groove. A dorsolateral preputial flap is then raised and tubularized to form the neourethra. The proximal end of this tube is anastomosed to the urethral opening using a continuous absorbable suture. Two parallel incisions are made in the glans on either side of the meatal groove. The distal part of the neourethral flap is laid over the groove and sutured on either side to create the glanular part of the urethra, after which the glans is reconstructed with the new meatal opening at the tip. The neourethral suture line is covered with a layer of vascularized subcutaneous tissue to protect against fistula formation, and the rest of the preputial skin is transferred ventrally to provide cover for the penile shaft. RESULTS: There were no major complications with minimum follow-up of 20 months. Meatal stenosis developed in two patients, and one had stricture at the proximal anastomosis. These were treated successfully with minor corrective procedures. All other patients had good results, and there were no cases of fistula. CONCLUSIONS: The method described has proved successful in the surgical correction of severe hypospadias in a single stage. It is easily adapted to permit urethral reconstruction after varying degrees of tissue excision required to obtain satisfactory correction of chordee. Patients do not need to undergo multiple procedures, and no major complications were encountered in this series.     

Tunica vaginalis flap following ‘Tubularised Incised Plate’ urethroplasty to prevent urethrocutaneous fistulaa

Introduction:

Surgery for hypospadias has been continuously evolving, implying thereby that no single technique is perfect and suitable for all types of hypospadias. Snodgrass technique is presently the most common surgical procedure performed for hypospadias.

Materials and Methods:

We analysed the results of tunica vaginalis flap (TVF) as an additional cover to the tubularised incised plate (TIP) repair.

Results:

A total of 35 patients of hypospadias were repaired using TIP urethroplasty and TVF as a second layer. Mean age at the time of presentation was 6.63 ± 3.4 years. Post-operative complications namely wound infection, flap necrosis, scrotal haematoma, scrotal abscess, urethral fistula, meatal stenosis were recorded and analysed during follow-up period. Need for re-do surgery was considered as failure of the operative procedure. Out of 35 patients, 8 (22.85%) patients had proximal penile hypospadias and 27 (77.14%) patients had distal penile hypospadias. Mean post-operative follow-up was 24.53 months. During the follow-up complications noticed included wound infection (n = 2), urethrocutaneous fistula (n = 1) and meatal stenosis (n = 1). Wound infection was managed with appropriate antibiotics as per hospital policy/culture and sensitivity reports. Meatal stenosis responded to bougie dilatation/calibration during follow-up.

Conclusion:

To conclude, TVF as an additional cover is associated with an acceptable complication rate and good cosmetic results if performed with meticulous tissue handlingKEY WORDS: Hypospadias, tunica vaginalis flap, urethrocutaneous fistula     

Clinical Review Of The ‘Snodgrass’ Hypospadias Repair

Background : Snodgrass first described the tubularized, incised plate (TIP) urethroplasty for distal hypospadias repair in 1994 based on the concept of hingeing the incised urethral plate. The use of this technique allows a vertically orientated glanular meatus to be produced. A retrospective review of patients who had this procedure for the primary repair of distal hypospadias at New Children’s Hospital was performed to objectively assess the cosmetic and functional outcomes of this technique. Methods : All patients having a TIP urethroplasty for the primary repair of distal hypospadias between 1996 and 1998 were requested to attend for review in an independent clinic. The parents were interviewed and the patient was examined to determine meatal location, meatal size, glanular configuration, urinary stream, straightness of erections, cosmesis, and the presence or absence of cutaneous sinus tracts or a urethral fistula. Results : Sixty patients were identified. Forty‐nine were reviewed in person, 10 were reviewed by telephone and one could not be traced. The median age at surgery was 13 months (range: 6–144 months), with a median follow up of 27 months (range: 2–33 months). A glanular meatus was achieved in 57 patients (97%) and a conical glanular configuration was achieved in 58 patients (98%). The urinary stream and erections were straight in 54 (89%) and 58 patients (98%), respectively. Suture sinus tracts were present in 14 (24%) patients. Six patients (10%) developed a urethral fistula and three (5%) developed meatal stenosis. A good or satisfactory final cosmetic and functional result was achieved in 58 patients (98%). Conclusions : The results of TIP urethroplasty are satisfactory at New Children’s Hospital with the benefit of a cosmetic final outcome similar to a circumcised penis.