Comparative study of one-stage and the novel two-stage urethroplasty using the transected urethral plate and transverse preputial island flap (TPIF) for severe hypospadias: a single-center experience

BACKGROUND: To evaluate a novel two-stage method of urethroplasty using a transected urethral plate and transverse preputial island flap (TPIF) for proximal hypospadias with severe chordee. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed 91 cases of proximal hypospadias, who had undergone either one-stage or two-stage urethroplasty. Comparisons between the two groups were made based on age, glans diameter, the length of the urethral defect, and the rate of complications. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in age at surgery, glans diameter, and the length of urethral defect between the two groups. In the one-stage group, 18 cases of urinary fistula and one case each of glans dehiscence, urethral diverticulum, and urethral diverticulum with concurrent glans dehiscence, were reported. All patients were treated using urinary fistula repair or urethroplasty. In the novel two-stage group, no cases of urinary fistula were reported after the secondary urethroplasty. However, 4 cases showed dehiscence at the glans, 2 were treated through reoperation but the 2 other 2 patients reoperation. The success rate was 62.50% and 88.57% in the one-stage and two-stage groups, respectively (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Two-stage urethroplasty using a tubularized urethral plate and TPIF can significantly reduce the incidence of urethral fistula of the proximal hypospadias with severe chordee. However, it may increase the number of operations that need to be performed on children who do not need staged surgery. Although we could not prove it through this study, we believe that the necessity of two-stage urethroplasty should be determined based on the development of the glans, the severity of penile curvature, and the length of the urethra defect.