[Evolution of hypospadias surgery. Comparative study of the various techniques used for 20 years]

With the purpose of studying the long-term results of the different surgical techniques used for the treatment of hypospadias, we have examined 1186 patients treated in our centre over the last 20 years. To facilitate the comparative study, three well-defined periods have been established: 1974-1981 (165 pts.). Treatment was done in several operative times. Denis Browne and Mathieu's urethroplasties were the techniques more frequently used. Their long-term evolution show keratosis and hairiness of the neourethra, which in 17 patients required a new urethroplasty with vesicle mucosa, as the most serious complication. 1982-1986 (281 pts.). Restoration was done in one single operative time. Magpi, Mathieu and Duckett's techniques were the most frequently used during this period. 1987-1993 (624 pts.). An island flap is added as cutaneous plasty after urethroplasty has been performed. Fistulae were the most frequent complications in all the above time-periods (18, 10 and 7.3%, respectively), followed by stenosis (12, 6.5 and 4.4%) and megaurethra (6.8, 6.7 and 2.9%). The remarkable decrease both in number and seriousness of the complications is due to the island cutaneous flap, hormonal stimulation, use of slow reabsorption materials , silicone probes, silastic foam dressings, caudal anaesthetics and, above all, a better indication for the surgical technique in each case.