Analysis of complications after repair of hypospadias

We have reviewed 184 patients after repair of primary hypospadias. They were operated on and followed-up according to a standard protocol, and the senior author (HS) participated in all operations. The patients were reconstructed using a Byars two-stage procedure (n=102) or a Scuderi (n=29) or Mathieu (n=41) single-stage procedure. The rest (n=12) just had a removal of the chordee with realignment of the skin. Complications recorded were haematomas, postoperative infections, malfunction of catheter, urinary retention, fistulas, and strictures. Thirty-eight complications developed in 26 patients and the overall incidence of fistula was 22 in 18 patients (10%). Our findings suggest that the most decisive risk factor for complications is the severity of the primary malformation, because a severe malformation per se is difficult to treat as it requires a long reconstruction; in addition the curvature, shortage of tissue, and extensive surgery generally require a staged reconstruction in these cases. Other factors seem to be of much lesser importance.