title: Comparison of dartos flap and dartos flap plus spongioplasty to prevent the formation of fistulae in the Snodgrass technique.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of our study was to evaluate the role of paraurethral spongial tissue plus dartos flap using an additional urethral cover to prevent fistula formation in patients who underwent surgery with the Snodgrass technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study was performed on 161 patients aged 10 months to 15 years who underwent midpenile and distal hypospadias repair using the Snodgrass technique. The patients were assigned to one of two groups. In Group I (75 patients), the neourethra was covered with the dartos flap, and in Group II (86 patients), the neourethra was covered with the dartos flap plus spongioplasty.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Urethral fistulae were encountered in six cases (8%) in Group I, and no fistulae were encountered in Group II.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The use of corpus spongiosum as an intermediate layer in urethral coverage, combined with the dartos flap, reduces the likelihood of fistula formation. This procedure can be applied easily and effectively to prevent the formation of fistulae.
authors: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Yuzuncu Yil University, 65200 Van, Turkey. salbilici@yahoo.com
authors: Salim
authors: S
authors: Bilici
authors: Tamer
authors: T
authors: Sekmenli
authors: Mustafa
authors: M
authors: Gunes
authors: Ilhan
authors: I
authors: Gecit
authors: Vedat
authors: V
authors: Bakan
authors: Daghan
authors: D
authors: Isik
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006801:Humans; D007021:Hypospadias / Q000601:surgery*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D014521:Urethra / Q000601:surgery; D014522:Urethral Diseases / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014548:Urinary Fistula / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control*