PENOPUBIC FLAPS TECHNIQUE FOR THE REPAIR OF EPISPADIAS WITH OR WITHOUT EXSTROPHY - A PRELIMINARY-REPORT

Six patients (average age, 2 1/2 years; range, 4 months to 8 years) wi th the exstrophy-epispadias complex and isolate epispadias were treate d using an alternative method. An inverted U-shaped incision (with a l ength of approximately 3 to 5 cm and a width of approximately 0.7 to 1 .0 cm) was prepared, extending from the penopubic urethral meatus towa rd the umbilicus. The two incisions were extended along the urethral p late toward the ventral face of the glans. The pubic flap was prepared from the skin or scar tissue on the pubic area. The neourethra was re constructed using penopubic flaps, A fistula occurred in one patient, which healed spontaneously. The penopubic flaps enabled us to form a w ide-enough urethral tube and to perform a better dissection on the pub ic area. Copyright (C) 1996 by W.B. Saunders Company