title: Age of patient is a risk factor for urethrocutaneous fistula in hypospadias surgery.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  There is still much debate regarding the effect that age at hypospadias operation has on the rate of complications. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether patient age is a risk factor for surgical complications when using the tubularized incised plate (TIP) urethroplasty technique.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 2005 and 2011, 307 pediatric patients with distal or mid-penile hypospadias underwent the TIP procedure. Demographic and surgical data were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The complications recorded across all age groups were: fistula, meatal stenosis, glans dehiscence and urethral stenosis. Fistula was the most frequent complication in 10-14 year olds compared to the younger patient groups, and this difference was statistically significant.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Age and surgical technique should be taken into consideration when planning hypospadias surgery, since the complication rate increases with patient age. The TIP technique is a safe procedure with a low rate of fistula formation in distal and mid-penile hypospadias repair for patients of any age during the prepubertal period.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Surgery, Sakarya University School Medicine, 54100 Sakarya, Turkey. Electronic address: tyildiz44@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Turan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Yildiz
authors.forename: Ibrahim Nuvit
authors.initials: IN
authors.lastname: Tahtali
authors.forename: Dilvin Celik
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Ates
authors.forename: Ibrahim
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Keles
authors.forename: Zekeriya
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Ilce
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D017677:Age Distribution; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D017577:Cutaneous Fistula / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D007021:Hypospadias / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010413:Penis / Q000601:surgery; D012307:Risk Factors; D013529:Surgical Wound Dehiscence / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D014521:Urethra / Q000601:surgery; D014525:Urethral Stricture / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D014548:Urinary Fistula / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D013521:Urologic Surgical Procedures, Male / Q000009:adverse effects*
keywords: Age; Complications; Hypospadias; TIP