Tubularized-incised plate urethroplasty in adults

To evaluate the results of tubularized incised-plate (TIP) urethroplasty for distal and midshaft hypospadias in adults, and to underline technical aspects to decrease complications.

From December 1999 to January 2004, 13 patients with hypospadias and aged 18-26 years had a TIP urethroplasty as a primary repair. Five had distal penile and eight had midshaft hypospadias. In all cases a TIP urethroplasty was used as described for children. Urinary drainage was by a urethral Nelaton catheter connected to a urine bag.

The catheter was removed after 10 days and the patients asked to attend a follow-up at 1, 3 and 6 months and then 6-monthly; the maximum follow-up was 3 years and the minimum was 3 months. One patient developed a fistula after the repair of distal penile hypospadias, which closed spontaneously after a month. All patients with a successful repair voided with a single straight urinary stream in a forward direction. They had a normally situated slit-like glanular meatus.

TIP repair in adults is associated good results. There is no difference in terms of wound healing, infection, complication rates and overall success between the TIP repair in children and adults. The cosmetic and functional outcome was comparable to that in children.