Prevalence and surgical management of pubic hypertrophy in hypospadias patients: results from a high-volume surgeon.

INTRODUCTION: Pubic hypertrophy, defined as an abnormal and abundant round mass of fatty tissue located over the pubic symphysis, is frequently underestimated in patients with hypospadias. We examined the prevalence of this condition, as well as the outcomes associated with its surgical treatment. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Within 266 hypospadias patients treated at our clinic, we assessed the prevalence of pubic hypertrophy, and we schematically described the surgical steps of pubic lipectomy. Multivariable logistic regression (MLR) tested for predictors of pubic hypertrophy. Finally, separate MLRs tested for predictors of fistula and any complications after pubic lipectomy. RESULTS: Of 266 hypospadias patients, 100 (37.6%) presented pubic hypertrophy and underwent pubic lipectomy. Patients with pubic hypertrophy more frequently had proximal hypospadias (44 vs. 7.8%), disorders of sex development (DSD) (10 vs. 0.6%), cryptorchidism (12 vs. 2.4%), and moderate (30°-60°) or severe (>60°) penile curvature (33 vs. 4.2%). In MLR, the loca-tion of urethral meatus (proximal, Odds ratio [OR]: 10.1, p<0.001) was the only signifi cant pre-dictor of pubic hypertrophy. Finally, pubic lipectomy was not associated with increased risk of fi stula (OR: 1.12, p=0.7) or any complications (OR: 1.37, 95% CI: 0.64-2.88, p=0.4) after multi-variable adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: One out of three hypospadias patients, referred to our center, presented pubic hypertrophy and received pubic lipectomy. This rate was higher in patients with proximal hypospadias suggesting a correlation between pubic hypertrophy and severity of hypospadias. Noteworthy, pubic lipectomy was not associated with increased risk of fistula or any complications.

Prevalence and surgical management of pubic hypertrophy in hypospadias patients: results from a high-volume surgeon

ABSTRACT Introduction: Pubic hypertrophy, defined as an abnormal and abundant round mass of fatty tissue located over the pubic symphysis, is frequently underestimated in patients with hypospadias. We examined the prevalence of this condition, as well as the outcomes associated with its surgical treatment. Material and methods: Within 266 hypospadias patients treated at our clinic, we assessed the prevalence of pubic hypertrophy, and we schematically described the surgical steps of pubic lipectomy. Multivariable logistic regression (MLR) tested for predictors of pubic hypertrophy. Finally, separate MLRs tested for predictors of fistula and any complications after pubic lipectomy. Results: Of 266 hypospadias patients, 100 (37.6%) presented pubic hypertrophy and underwent pubic lipectomy. Patients with pubic hypertrophy more frequently had proximal hypospadias (44 vs. 7.8%), disorders of sex development (DSD) (10 vs. 0.6%), cryptorchidism (12 vs. 2.4%), and moderate (30°-60°) or severe (>60°) penile curvature (33 vs. 4.2%). In MLR, the location of urethral meatus (proximal, Odds ratio [OR]: 10.1, p<0.001) was the only significant predictor of pubic hypertrophy. Finally, pubic lipectomy was not associated with increased risk of fistula (OR: 1.12, p=0.7) or any complications (OR: 1.37, 95% CI: 0.64-2.88, p=0.4) after multivariable adjustment. Conclusions: One out of three hypospadias patients, referred to our center, presented pubic hypertrophy and received pubic lipectomy. This rate was higher in patients with proximal hypospadias suggesting a correlation between pubic hypertrophy and severity of hypospadias. Noteworthy, pubic lipectomy was not associated with increased risk of fistula or any complications.

Prevalence and risk factors of lipohypertrophy in insulin-injecting patients with diabetes.

INTRODUCTION: Our objective was to assess the frequency of lipohypertrophy (LH) and its relationship to site rotation, needle reuse, glucose variability, hypoglycaemia and use of insulin. METHODS: The study included 430 outpatients injecting insulin who filled out a wide-ranging questionnaire regarding their injection technique. Then, a diabetes nurse examined their injection sites for the presence of LH. RESULTS: Nearly two-thirds (64.4%) of patients had LH. There was a strong relationship between the presence of LH and non-rotation of sites, with correct rotation technique having the strongest protective value against LH. Of the patients who correctly rotated sites, only 5% had LH while, of the patients with LH, 98% either did not rotate sites or rotated incorrectly. Also, 39.1% of patients with LH had unexplained hypoglycaemia and 49.1% had glycaemic variability compared with only 5.9% and 6.5%, respectively, in those without LH. LH was also related to needle reuse, with risk increasing significantly when needles were used > 5 times. Total daily insulin doses for patients with and without LH averaged 56 and 41 IU/day, respectively. This 15 IU difference equates to a total annual cost to the Spanish healthcare system of > €122 million. This was also the first study in which the use of ultrasound allowed the description of an "echo signature" for LH. CONCLUSION: Correct injection site rotation appears to be the critical factor in preventing LH, which is associated with reduced glucose variability, hypoglycaemia, insulin consumption and costs.

Ultrasound assessment of asymmetric hypertrophy of the rectus abdominis muscle and prevalence of associated injury in professional tennis players.

OBJECTIVE: To assess rectus abdominis (RA) thickness and injury prevalence using ultrasound in a group of professional tennis players. Observations with regard to muscle fiber repair is described. We likewise studied the potential link between RA volume asymmetry and the risk of muscle strain. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The degree of asymmetry between the different RA slices was assessed using ultrasound in 61 professional tennis players. The history of RA injury in these tennis players was likewise studied, taking into account the following factors: dominant vs non-dominant arm, history of RA strains, duration thereof and number of recurrences. Ultrasound examination was performed with an 8- to 12-MHz linear multi-frequency transducer. RESULTS: Ultrasound revealed the presence of fibrous scar tissue in the RA muscle in 18 cases (29.5%). In all instances, the lesion was located in the RA on the side of the nondominant arm. In 16 of the cases, the lesion was infra-umbilical and L2 was affected in two cases. The mean maximum width of the fibrous repair tissue was 9 mm (range 5-16). The mean distance between the umbilicus and the scar was 5.8 cm (range 2.9-11.4). Statistical study of the ultrasound measurements obtained for the different slices revealed statistically significant differences between the different depths and according to arm dominance. CONCLUSIONS: In the series studied, the prevalence of RA muscle lesion in professional tennis players was 29.5%. Asymmetric hypertrophy of the RA muscle appears to constitute a risk factor for suffering an injury in this location.

Assessment of the consensus about tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy among pediatricians and otolaryngologists.

BACKGROUND: Several recent publications have shown that the current indications for tonsillectomy and/or adenoidectomy (T&A) in children vary considerably between and even within countries. The objective of our study is to present statistically valid information to surgeons and pediatricians, primary care physicians, and family physicians as key referral channels to the operation, whether there is consensus between pediatricians and otolaryngologists regarding the appropriateness of T&A. METHODS: Six academic pediatricians and six otolaryngologists participated in the study. After otolaryngologists visited 200 patients, the cases were referred to a pediatrician who also visited the patients independently on the same day pre-operatively. They ranked the appropriateness of T&A on a numerical Likert scale from 0 (never indicated) to 9 (always indicated) in a questionnaire. RESULTS: Overall, 200 (102 boys and 98 girls) children with a mean age of 6.1+/-5.6 were enrolled in this study. Otolaryngologists and Pediatricians had agreed about the history of tonsillitis attacks in the previous 6 months and previous year. The patients provided them with the same history. The agreement between otolaryngologists and pediatrician's views about T&A was poor. CONCLUSIONS: This study can serve as an initial warning in developing a national community-based working group to prepare a transparent local guideline regarding T&A indications. More attention should focused the role of pediatricians, primary care physicians, and family physicians for more follow up and determining which patients will eventually need T&A.