Cumulative re-operation rates during follow-up after hypospadias repair

Objective

To assess the cumulative rates of re-operations after hypospadias repair and evaluate long-term surgical outcomes at a tertiary paediatric urology centre.

Patients and Methods

Retrospective analysis of 293 boys born between 1991 and 2003 undergoing hypospadias surgery was conducted. The study included 274 patients: 165 with distal, 34 with midshaft, and 75 with proximal hypospadias. Kaplan–Meier methods were used to evaluate the re-operation data.

Results

The median age at primary surgery was 1.3 years, with a median follow-up of 14.4 years. The overall re-operation rate was 48.2%, with approximately half of the problems detected within the first 3 months after surgery. The risk of re-operation was correlated with hypospadias severity, with 5- and 15-year re-operation risks at 39.3% and 51.8%, respectively. Limitations of the study include its retrospective nature and variations in surgical techniques from current standards.

Conclusion

There is a significant risk of unplanned re-operations following hypospadias repair, increasing with the severity of the original condition. This underscores the need for extended follow-up and effective communication with patients and their families about the likelihood of requiring multiple surgeries for optimal outcomes.