Purpose: We review the evolution of the concept of tubularization of the urethral plate and our results in the repair of proximal hypospadias.
Materials and methods: A total of 281 children born with proximal hypospadias underwent Thiersch-Duplay urethroplasty with or without a midline incision of the urethral plate between 1989 and 1998. Followup data were available in 265 children.
Results: Excellent functional and cosmetic results were achieved in 88.7% of the patients. The use of either a dartos or tunica vaginalis flap to waterproof the urethral suture line resulted in a decrease in the fistula rate from 17% to 1.8%.
Conclusions: The principles of Thiersch-Duplay urethroplasty represent the basic foundation for surgical techniques that use the urethral plate to construct a urethral tube. The use of this principle in the repair of proximal hypospadias compares favorably with other methods.