Does the suturing technique (continuous versus interrupted) have an impact on the outcome of tubularized incised plate in hypospadias repair with adequate urethral plate? A prospective randomized study.

INTRODUCTION: Hypospadias is one of the most common anomalies of male external genitalia. The aim of hypospadias repair is to achieve a normal phallus with a satisfactory functional and cosmetic result and to develop a single and consistent urinary stream while in standing position. The introduction of tubularized incised plate (TIP) urethroplasty by Snodgrass in 1994 resulted in revolutionizing management of different types of hypospadias. While there is consensus on the use of absorbable sutures in hypospadias repair, there are no specific guidelines for the suturing technique and the technique itself remains debatable. OBJECTIVE: To compare the outcome of interrupted- and continuous-suture in hypospadias repair using TIP technique. STUDY DESIGN: This was a prospective randomized study. It comprised 260 uncircumcised hypospadiac boys with adequate urethral plate who underwent TIP repair. Boys with glanular, recurrent, proximal hypospadias and inadequate urethral plate were excluded from the study. The boys were randomized into two groups: Group A consisted of 130 boys who underwent TIP repair using continuous subcuticular suture urethroplasty and Group B of 130 boys who underwent TIP repair using interrupted subcuticular suture urethroplasty. RESULTS: The operative time was of lower statistical significance in group A (P = 0.006) while the rate of complications were of higher statistical significance in group A (P = 0.027). Urethrocutaneous fistulae occurred in 20 patients (14 in Group A and six in Group B), which is a statistically significant difference (P = 0.048). On the other hand, superficial wound infection, partial glans dehiscence, meatal stenosis, urethral stricture, and aesthetic appearance were statistically insignificant. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION: The effect of suturing techniques in bowel anastomosis has been studied and it has been found that the use of an interrupted-suturing technique results in a decreased complication rate compared to continuous suturing. This agrees with our study where the running sutures groups was associated with a higher complication rate compared to interrupted sutures.