Hypospadias: Evaluation of Therapeutic Outcomes and Sexual Function in Adulthood in a University Hospital Setting

Abstract

Background: Hypospadias is a congenital malformation resulting from hypoplasia of the tissues forming the ventral face of the penis. It is associated to variable degrees with an ectopic urethral meatus, a penis curvature and a sapper’s apron foreskin [1] . The incidence of this malformation varies from country to country. It is estimated at 1/300 male births in France and 0.26/ 1000 in Mexico [1] . In Senegal, the prevalence of this malformation is unknown. Hypospadias surgery has improved significantly in recent years due to a better understanding of the anatomy on the one hand and the improvement of the instruments used during surgery on the other (suture material, surgical magnification, urethral catheter of suitable size). In sub-Saharan Africa and particularly in Senegal, hypospadias surgery remains a challenge due to the unavailability of adequate equipment (lack of microsurgical instruments and surgical loupes). Objective: To evaluate the outcomes of the treatment of hypospadias by the different surgical techniques used in our center as well as their sexual function in adulthood. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective study, including all patients operated for hypospadias between January 2009 and December 2017 in Urology-Andrology department of Aristide Le Dantec hospital. The studied parameters were: frequency, age, clinical and therapeutic aspects, and their sexual function in adulthood after treatment. The outcomes of the treatment were judged good or poor depending of the quality of penile straightening, the aesthetic appearance of the penis, the position of the urethral neo-meatus, the permeability of the urethra and the existence or not of fistula. The sexual function was assessed by the International Index of Erectile Function 15 (IIEF) score. Results: Fifty-five patients were included. The median age was 6 years (P25 = 2.8 and P75 = 13 years). After a mean follow-up of 58 ± 33 months, 81.8% (45) of patients had a good outcome. Duplay-Snodgrass urethroplasty was the most commonly used urethroplasty technique with better results. Complications were noted in 29 patients. The most common were urethral fistula, surgical site infection and urethral neo-meatus stenosis. The sexual function was rated good in one patient and average in the other two (after an average decline of 53 ± 26 months). Conclusion: Urethroplasty according to Duplay Snodgrass was the most used technique in our studies and its outcomes were better compared to the other techniques used.