Can Spongioplasty Prevent Fistula Formation and Correct Penile Curvature in TIP Urethroplasty for Hypospadias?

Objective To clarify whether spongioplasty decreases the complications rate and the degree of penile curvature in TIP urethroplasty. Methods From 2007 to 2011, 47 patients underwent TIP repair. Thirty-seven underwent spongioplasty, while 10 did not because their bifurcated spongy tissues could be not clearly identified. We investigated whether spongioplasty reduced the incidencerates of complications such as urethrocutaneous fistula. We also evaluated whether spongioplasty contributed to resolving or decreasing penile curvature. In addition, we assessed how many of the patients that underwent spongioplasty did not have to undergo dorsal plication. Results Among the 47 patients who underwent TIP repair, postoperative complications occurred in 3 (8%) of the 37 patients that underwent spongioplasty and 1 (10%) of the 10 who did not. Spongioplasty did not decrease the complications rate of TIP repair. As 15 of the 47 patients demonstrated a straight penis before spongioplasty, the effect of spongioplasty on the correction of penile curvature was analyzed in 32 patients. Dorsal plication was avoided in 19 patients (59%) because their penile curvature had been decreased to within the permissible range (