Fixation of bilateral pelvic osteotomies with external fixator in exstrophy bladder complex.

OBJECTIVE To present the early results of pelvic osteotomies performed for repair of exstrophy bladder. METHODS Five cases of exstrophy bladder were treated with closure following bilateral iliac osteotomies. Three patients underwent closure of pubic symphysis diastasis by use of external fixator, one by screws and cerclage wires, and one by use of K-wires and suture. The patients were followed up by the pediatric urologist and orthopedic surgeon. RESULTS All patients achieved a closure of diastasis and a tension free repair after the index surgery. The average follow-up was 3.6 years with range of 4 months to 6 years. All osteotomies healed within two months and had closure of the diastasis, except one which had a partial failure with loss of 50% correction. No patient had any wound dehiscence or breakdown of the bladder repair. Preoperative mean diastasis of symphysis pubis was 6 cm (range; 4.5 cm to 7 cm) and post operative mean diastasis was 3.5 cm with the range of 2.5 cm to 4 cm at 12 months follow up. All patients achieved urinary continence post operatively and were passing urine per-urethra with satisfactory urinary control as followed-up with the pediatric urologists. CONCLUSION Bilateral iliac osteotomies and use of external fixator in our series was found to be helpful in achieving a tension free closure and preventing dehiscence of the repair.