A comprehensive analysis of a tubularized incised plate hypospadias repair.

OBJECTIVES

To critically evaluate my experience using a modified tubularized incised plate (TIP) hypospadias repair.

METHODS

Sixty-four boys, 7 months to 11 years old (mean age 22.9 months), underwent a TIP urethroplasty by a single pediatric urologist for primary hypospadias. The hypospadias defects included 53 distal and 11 midshaft. The incision of the urethral plate was always deep and proximal but never extended the entire length of the plate. In 25 cases (39%), the incision was less than one half the length of the urethral plate. A two-layer urethroplasty was always obtained. A vascularized subcutaneous pedicle was always placed onto the urethroplasty. This pedicle was ventrally based in 56 of the repairs (87.5%). Postoperative urethral stents were not used in 52 boys (81.3%), including 7 with midshaft repairs. All children were scheduled for a postoperative evaluation at 1 month. A confidential phone survey was later conducted by someone other than the surgeon. The parents were asked if they were satisfied or dissatisfied with the direction and caliber of the urinary stream, chordee correction, and overall general appearance.

RESULTS

The clinical evaluation was performed in 54 boys (84.7%) not earlier than 1 month after the repair. The examination revealed a conical glans, slit meatus, circumferential mucosal collar, and a straight phallus in all cases. No cases of fistula, stricture, or dehiscence occurred. A follow-up phone survey 3 to 43 months (mean 21 months) postoperatively was obtained from the parents of 40 patients. Without exception, the parents were satisfied with the urinary stream, chordee correction, and overall appearance.

CONCLUSIONS

Without incising the entire urethral plate and stenting the repair, a TIP urethroplasty can still be expected to provide excellent results when correcting distal and midshaft hypospadias. Parents were satisfied with the long-term cosmetic and functional results obtained with a TIP urethroplasty.