Tubularised incised-plate versus tubularisation of an intact and laterally augmented plate for hypospadias repair: A prospective randomised study

OBJECTIVES To compare the outcome of hypospadias repair using tubularised incised-plate (TIP) urethroplasty and tubularisation of an intact and laterally augmented urethral plate. PATIENTS AND METHODS This prospective randomised study included 370 patients with primary distal hypospadias. All had urethral plate widths of 8-10 mm and a glans of ⩾15 mm. Exclusion criteria were previous repair, circumcision, a wide urethral plate of >10 mm or a narrow plate of <8 mm in diameter, a small glans of <15 mm in diameter, chordee of >30°, and hormonal stimulation. Patients were randomised into two groups: Group 1 (185 patients) underwent TIP urethroplasty and Group 2 (185 patients) underwent tubularisation of the intact plate with lateral augmentation of the urethral plate using penile skin. The follow-up period was 12-28 months. RESULTS There were 172 evaluable patients in Group 1 and 177 in Group 2. The urethroplasty was successful in 83.2% and 94.4% in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. Complications occurred in 16.8% in Group 1 and 5.6% in Group 2 (P = 0.001). Meatal stenosis occurred in 7% and 3.4% in Groups 1 and 2, respectively (P = 0.130). There were statistically significant differences in the wound dehiscence, fistula, and re-operation rates of Group 1 versus Group 2, at 6% versus 0%, 9.8% versus 2.8%, and 13.4% versus 5.6%, respectively. The presence of mild chordee did not affect the complication rate (P = 0.242). The mean (SD) operative time was 56.7 (8.9) min in Group 1 and 93.7 (8.3) min in Group 2 (P < 0.001). CONCLUSION The outcome of tubularised intact and laterally augmented plate is better than classical TIP urethroplasty of hypospadias. Further trials are mandatory to extend the indications of the technique.