Hypospadias repair by skin flaps: a comparison of onlay preputial island flaps with either Mathieu's meatal-based or Duckett's tubularized preputial flaps.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the success of different skin flaps in the one-stage correction of primary hypospadias, with particular emphasis on comparing onlay preputial island flaps with Mathieu's meatal-based and Duckett's preputial tubularized flaps.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: During a 12-year period, 418 patients underwent single-stage primary hypospadias repair using skin flaps, carried out by one surgeon. The surgical techniques used included Mathieu's repair in 216 (52%), Duckett's in 148 (35%), onlay preputial flaps in 42 (10%) and the Mustarde flap procedure in 12 (3%). The surgical results were reviewed, assessing complications and the functional and cosmetic outcome.

RESULTS: At a mean follow-up of 23 months the initial overall complication rate for flap procedures was 22%; however, after a mean of 1.4 procedures, the final success rate was 95%. The complication rate was significantly (P<0.05) higher in patients with a proximal urethral meatus, with severe chordee or in repairs involving transection of the urethral plate. However, the complication rates were not significantly different when the patients underwent repair when aged <2 years or >2 years. Despite no significant difference in overall complication rates, onlay procedures tended to be used in more severe hypospadias than was Mathieu's repair. Duckett's repair caused a significantly higher overall complication rate as fistulae, strictures, meatal stenoses and tubular abnormalities than did onlay procedures. The use of double-faced preputial island flaps resulted in an inferior cosmetic appearance than the use of single-faced flaps, but the overall complication rates did not differ significantly between these techniques.

CONCLUSIONS: Hypospadias repair using skin flaps offered a reliable and durable outcome. However, complication rates were greater in patients with severe hypospadias and with techniques requiring transection of the urethral plate. The onlay preputial island-flap technique was more widely applicable than was Mathieu's repair and had a lower complication rate than Duckett's procedure.