Comparison of tubularized incised plate urethroplasty and onlay island flap urethroplasty techniques in the repair of primarily proximal hypospadias

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: To compare the success of the 'tubularized incised plate urethroplasty' (TIPU)' and 'Onlay island flap urethroplasty' (OIFU) techniques for the repair of primary proximal hypospadias. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A retrospective evaluation was made of the medical records of 68 patients with primary, non-complicated hypospadias, who were operated on in the Department of Urology, Ministry of Heal- th Ankara Education and Research Hospital, between January 1997 and December 2012. Patients who underwent hypospadias surgery with TIPU were labelled as Group 1 and the OIFU technique as Group 2. Patient age, native meatus localization, operation time, diversion type, surgical success and complication rates were all assessed. Surgical success was evaluated with direct vision of voiding and uroflowmetry at the time of catheter removal, then at 2 weeks, 6 weeks, 6 months and 1 year. RESULTS: Group 1 consisted of 43 patients and Group 2 of 25 patients. The mean age of patients was 6.4±3.1 years in Group 1 and 8.0±4.6 years in Group 2 (p=0.09). The mean operating time was significantly lower in Group 1. (Group 1- 104.8±16.8 min, Group 2-125.4±24.7min; p<0.001) The distribution of meatus localization was similar in both groups. At 1 year postoperatively, urethrocutaneous fistula was the only complication and the definitive success rates were 81.6% in Group 1 and 72% in Group 2. CONCLUSION: Despite less frequent usage since the description and popularization of TIPU for proximal hypospadias repair, OIFU remains a valuable technique as a single-stage procedure in cases where the urethral plate is insufficient. Currently, both TIPU and OIFU are used successfully in the treatment of patients with proximal hypospadias.