Preservation of the urethral plate in hypospadias repair: extended applications and further experience with the onlay island flap urethroplasty.

The onlay island flap urethroplasty, a variant of the transverse preputial (tubularized) island flap, was originally described for repair of anterior hypospadias. However, many cases of mid and proximal hypospadias have a well developed urethral plate and exhibit little or no chordee after release of skin tethering. Patients with this combination of findings are ideal candidates for onlay island flap urethroplasty regardless of initial meatal position. During the last 5 years the onlay island flap has been used for repair of mid to posterior hypospadias in 31 patients (38% of the cases). These are variants that formerly would have required more extensive urethroplasty. Because of the technical advantages of the onlay island flap this alteration in technique selection has resulted in fewer complications. When applied to mid and posterior hypospadias the onlay island flap maintained a significantly lower complication rate (10%) compared to other standard techniques. Preservation of the urethral plate in hypospadias repair is a principle with significant implications to an extended variety of hypospadias.