The 2-stage hypospadias repair. Is it a misnomer?

The repair of penoscrotal or perineal hypospadias with severe chordee may require division of the urethral plate to facilitate repair. While a 2-stage approach to these difficult cases has been advocated, we have used a modified tubularized transverse preputial island flap (TPIF) repair as a 1-stage procedure. We compare our results with both procedures.

Between 1997 and 2001, 1 surgeon (DAC) performed 22 penoscrotal or scrotal hypospadias repairs that required transection of the urethral plate. A TPIF or planned 2-stage repair was done in 12 and 10 boys, respectively. The TPIF was modified by suturing the medial edge of the island flap along the length of the corpora recreating a urethral plate and then tubularizing a neourethra. The 2-stage approach consisted first of mobilizing skin to the ventrum of the penis followed 6 to 12 months later by a urethroplasty. At followup cosmetic and functional results were assessed.

The TPIF and staged repair groups have been followed for a mean 24.5 and 43.5 months following the first repair, respectively. Of the 12 boys undergoing a TPIF 2 (16.7%) required a fistula repair or meatoplasty while 7 of 10 (70%) required at least 1 additional operation after the stage 2 urethroplasty (p <0.05). A mean of 1.6 additional repairs following the stage 2 urethroplasty was required. At last followup physical examination demonstrated a straight penis with distal meatus in 19 of 22 boys. Persistent complications include a concealed penis and recurrent fistula in 2 boys following a staged repair and glanular separation in 1 boy following TPIF.

In our experience the staged approach to the repair of severe hypospadias requires significantly more cumulative surgical attempts than the modified TPIF. Indeed, in the majority of our cases the so-called "2-stage hypospadias repair" was a misnomer. The TPIF offers a reliable 1-stage repair. We prefer this approach to staged repairs even for severe hypospadias.