[Extrophy of the bladder]

Between 1970 and 1980 we operated on 10 patients with congenital extrophy of the bladder and attempted staged anatomical and functional closure in all cases. Currently two patients have a functioning closed bladder, four are in different stages of treatment, and four have undergone urinary diversion. The importance of functional bladder reconstruction is stressed. Though it requires long hospitalization, and complication may result, the procedure can be justified because the anomaly is so grotesque.