The cosmetic outcome of distal penile hypospadias repair using stitch-by-stitch glanuloplasty versus TIP: a non-randomized retrospective study

Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to assess the cosmetic outcomes of stitch-by-stitch (SBS) glanuloplasty in comparison to the tubularized incised plate (TIP) technique for the treatment of hypospadias. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of patient records covering the period from March 2021 to March 2022. In total, 87 boys underwent hypospadias repair at our institution during this timeframe. The study focused on a subgroup of 40 children aged one to three years, among whom 20 received TIP repair, while the other 20 underwent SBS glanuloplasty onlay repair. The choice of surgical technique was determined by the surgeon's discretion, glans morphology, and the width of the urethral plate. All patients were subject to postoperative follow-ups at one and three weeks and then at three months to evaluate the cosmetic outcomes and postoperative complications. Results: The mean age of patients in the SBS group was 24.55±5.74 months, compared to 25.65±7.34 months in the TIP group. Parental satisfaction in the SBS group reached 85%, while it was 75% in the TIP group (p=0.659). Furthermore, both groups exhibited similar satisfaction rates among other pediatric surgeons (80%) and nurses (80%). Overall satisfaction rates were marginally higher in the SBS group (85%) compared to the TIP group (80%), with no statistically significant difference observed (p=0.666). The incidence of complications was 25% in the SBS group and 20% in the TIP group. Conclusion: this study underscores that both SBS and TIP techniques offer comparable levels of satisfaction among patients, nurses, and surgeons. Furthermore, the complication rates between the two techniques were similar.