Perineal hypospadias: back to the future Chordee Excision & Distal Urethroplasty

Perineal hypospadias correction has swung from two-stage repair in the 1960s to one-stage repair in the 1980s and back to two-stage repair in the 2000s. The author's experience with a technique in which Chordee Excision and Distal Urethroplasty (CEDU) was performed at the first operation leaving a 1-cm segment as perineal urethrotomy to be reconstructed at the second operation is presented.

Between January 2013 and December 2016, the CEDU technique was performed in 63 patients with perineal hypospadias. The records of 59 patients who maintained regular follow-up were reviewed. The principle is to excise the hypoplastic urethral plate, atretic corpus spongiosum, and longitudinal layer of tunica albuginea; split the glans in the midline; and reconstruct a healthy urethral plate using preputial and lateral skin flaps to the tip of the glans. Distal urethroplasty was performed leaving 1 cm at the proximal end to be reconstructed 3-6 months later. This principle was used by Duplay in the 1880s. Patient age ranged between 6 months and 2 years (mean 8 months). All the patients had perineal hypospadias and bifid scrotum with severe deep chordee. Follow-up period ranged from 17 to 53 months (mean 36). A transurethral Silastic catheter was inserted for 4 days. Three months later, the remaining 1 cm of the new urethra was reconstructed, and final adjustment of the glans and foreskin was performed.

Satisfactory results were obtained in 54 patients (90%). Three children experienced glans dehiscence that was corrected in the second stage, one child developed fistula after the second operation, and one developed diverticulum. The fistula and diverticulum were corrected at the third operation successfully.

It was necessary in this series to divide the urethral plate and excise the hypoplastic corpus spongiosum and the outer longitudinal layer of tunica albuginea to correct the associated deep chordee. The lateral skin flaps receive double blood supply from the base of the penis and the preputial vessels. This natural urinary diversion allows early removal of the catheter, reduces the discomfort of the patient, and allows the new urethra to heal without urine irritation for 3 months. Long-term follow-up for 15 years is necessary to assess the technique objectively.

The CEDU technique diverts urine away from the site of urethroplasty for 3 months without a catheter. It reduces the hospital stay and patient discomfort. It produces satisfactory results and has become a the standard technique in perineal hypospadias.