Complications of hypospadias repair

Hypospadias is one of the more common and one of the most challenging problems in urologic surgery. The past two decades have ushered in an era of new operations and variations of older ones, which, when coupled with technical advancements and improvements in management, have redefined the aims of the surgeon, who now strives to create a "normal" penis with a minimum of complications. Minimization of complications is contingent on selection of an operation properly tailored to the individual's anatomy. To this end, the surgeon's armamentarium must include a variety of repairs and familiarity with the limitations and potential complications inherent in each. After describing the principles of surgical selection, technique, and postoperative management used in our institution, this article deals primarily with the avoidance and management of the immediate and long-term complications of hypospadias surgery.