title: Interposition of dartos flaps to prevent fistula after tubularized incised-plate repair of hypospadias.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effect of urethral coverage by a single- or double-layered dorsal dartos flap after tubularized incised-plate (TIP) repair of hypospadias on fistula formation.
  
  
  METHODS
  In this retrospective study we evaluated sequential patients with hypospadias who underwent TIP urethroplasty with a dorsal dartos interpositional flap between April 2008 and December 2009. We reviewed their medical records for the site of hypospadias, previous hypospadias repair, single- or double-layered dartos flap and postoperative complications. The patients were divided into two groups; in group A the urethra was covered by a single layer of dartos fascia, and in group B the urethra was covered by double layers of dartos flap.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of 91 patients who opted for hypospadias repair during the time of the study, 62 had a TIP urethroplasty with a dorsal dartos flap; of these 62, three did not fulfil the requirement of the minimum follow-up, so 59 were eligible for the study (32 in group A and 27 in group B). Preoperative clinical data were comparable in both groups. At a mean of 12.2 months of follow-up, there was no reported fistula in group B, while two patients in group A developed a urethrocutaneous fistula (P = 0.19). Meatal stenosis occurred in two patients in group A and one in group B (P = 0.66).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was no significant difference in subsequent urethrocutaneous fistula between a double-layered dorsal dartos flap and single layer for covering the urethra as a part of TIP urethroplasty for repairing hypospadias.
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
authors.forename: Ehab R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Elsayed
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
authors.forename: Abdellatif M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Zayed
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
authors.forename: Diab
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: El Sayed
authors.affiliation: Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt.
authors.forename: Mahmoud
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: El Adl
keywords: Dartos flap; Fistula; Hypospadias; TIP, tubularized incised-plate; Tubularized incised plate