A case for 2-stage repair of perineoscrotal hypospadias with severe chordee.

PURPOSE: In the majority of children hypospadias can be corrected in a single stage procedure. However, there is a subgroup of patients with perineoscrotal meatus and severe chordee who frequently exhibit some degree of penile scrotal transposition. It is this subgroup of patients in whom a critical review of the long-term results is examined.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1980 and 1995, 1,934 children underwent repair of hypospadias and chordee. Of these patients 51 had perineoscrotal hypospadias with severe chordee and 40 underwent single stage repair (23), which included either full thickness skin graft urethroplasty (6), a proximal Thiersch procedure with distal free preputial skin graft (7) or an island tubularized flap (10). The chordee were corrected by either Nesbit or tunica albuginea plication. A 2-stage repair was performed in the remaining 11 children. Stage 1 consisted of chordee repair by either dermal (5) or tunica vaginalis (6) grafting of the ventral tunica albuginea surface, while stage 2 urethroplasty was performed 6 months later. These 2 groups were compared in regard to function status and cosmetic results.

RESULTS: Of the patients 34 (61%) were available for a greater than 5-year followup. An excellent outcome (terminal meatal voiding, near normal appearance, no complications) was obtained in only 5 (21%) patients of the single stage repair group, while satisfactory (subterminal meatus, irregularities in meatal, glandular or penile skin) or complicated results were obtained in 4 (17%) and 14 (61%), respectively. The overall complication rate was 61% (14 of 23 patients), including fistula, urethral diverticulum, distal breakdown or stricture formation. Recurrent chordee was noted in 5 (22%) children. Of the 2-stage group excellent results were obtained in 7 (63%), patients, while satisfactory and complicated results was seen in 2 (18%) and 2 (18%), respectively. Overall complication rate was 18%, and included fistula and diverticular formation. However, no recurrence of the initial chordee was noted.

CONCLUSIONS: Our long-term followup suggests that ventral grafting of the corporal wall in patients with severe chordee as a staged procedure is superior to the dorsal plication or Nesbit procedure. The overall functional and cosmetic results are excellent with the 2-stage compared to the single stage repair.