Primary closure of bladder exstrophy: long-term functional results in 137 patients

Between 1945 and 1985, 207 patients were treated at our institution for exstrophy of the urinary bladder. Primary anatomical bladder closure was performed in 137 patients. In 97 patients treated prior to 1975, bladder closure was performed at a median age of 1 year and continence in this group was only 16%. Forty patients treated after 1975 underwent closure at a median age of 72 hours followed by staged reconstruction of the bladder neck. Continence in this group was 82%; however, the average number of surgical procedures was five as compared with two in the first group. Early bladder closure and staged reconstruction can achieve acceptable urinary continence, but multiple surgical procedures may be required.