Outcomes of one-stage techniques for proximal hypospadias repair

To evaluate the success of three preputial flap techniques in the one-stage correction of proximal hypospadias.

From 1993 to 1999, 43 children underwent one-stage proximal hypospadias repair using preputial flaps, which were performed by a single surgeon. Of the 43 patients, 21 (48.8%), 10 (23.2%), and 12 (27.9%) underwent tubularized island flap urethroplasty, double-faced tubularized island flap urethroplasty, and onlay island flap urethroplasty, respectively. The age range of the patients at surgery was 18 months to 14 years (mean 3.4). Dorsal plication was required for chordee repair in 12 patients (3 in tubularized island flaps, 3 in double-faced tubularized island flaps, and 6 in onlay island flaps). In addition to the dorsal plication, posterior dissection of the urethral plate without division was performed on 3 of the 6 patients with mild to severe chordee in the onlay island flap group. The incidence of complications requiring repeated surgery was evaluated for each group.

The follow-up was 8 months to 7 years (mean 4.1 years). The overall complication rate was 90% for the double-faced tubularized island flap repair, 38% for the tubularized island flap repair, and 33% for the onlay island flap repair. Recurrent chordee was observed in 2 (66.6%) of the 3 patients who underwent onlay island flap repair with urethral plate dissection.

The use of a tubularized island flap is suggested for one-stage repair of proximal hypospadias, especially in the patients with severe chordee. Because of the high complication rates, the double-faced tubularized island flap technique is not advocated. The onlay island flap may also be used for proximal hypospadias repair if mild chordee is present. Because of the high recurrent chordee rate, dissection of the urethral plate without division is not suggested in the onlay island flap technique.