Objective To investigate the effectiveness of longitudinal preputial pedicled flap urethroplasty for chordee of Donnahoo IV type. Methods Between June 1994 and October 2011, 30 patients with chordee (Donnahoo type IV) underwent longitudinal preputial pedicled flap urethroplasty. The patients’ age ranged from 2 to 16 years (mean, 5.8 years). The morphology of the balanus-navicular fossa-external urethral orifice ranged normal; the penis length was 2.5-6.8 cm (mean, 4.3 cm); the penis bending angle was 35-70° (mean, 40.1°). Primary and secondary operation was 27 cases and 3 cases, respectively. The size of flap ranged from 1.5 cm × 1.3 cm to 4.0 cm × 2.0 cm. Results After correction, the penis length was 3.0-8.5 cm (mean, 6.6 cm); the penis bending angle was 0-10° (mean, 1.2°). All patients were followed up 6 months to 12 years (mean, 33 months). No recurrence, stabbing pain of the balanus, or foreign body sensation occurred during follow-up. Of them, 4 patients (13.33%) had urinary fistular, they had satisfactory results after the second operation; 2 patients (6.67%) had urethral stricture 1 month after operation, they also had satisfactory results after arethral dilatation. The other patients showed no scattering urinary flow and good direction without complication. Six patients had satisfactory sexual function after puberty without erection disorder, pain, or dyspareunia. Conclusion Longitudinal preputial pedicled flap urethroplasty can achieve maximum utilization of prepuce and aesthetic and functional improvement with less complication, so it is a relatively ideal mean for treating chordee of Donnahoo type IV.
Objective To investigate the anatomical features of congenital chordee without hypospadias in children and to discuss the diagnosis and treatment.Methods From August 1984 to December 2004, 94 children with chordee withouthypospadias treated in the West China Hospital of Sichuan University were classified and analyzed for anatomical alterations. Their ages ranged from 18 months to 13 years (mean 6.9 years). Ninety-four patients were divided into four groups. With intraoperation artificial erection, the patients with penis straightened after degloving were classified as type Ⅰ patients (skin-tethering), those with peins straightened after fibrotic tissue in Buck’s fascia released as type Ⅱ patients (dysgenetic fascia), those with normal urethra and orthoplasty failed after degloving and removing fibrotic tissue as type Ⅲ patients (corporal disproportion), and those with dysgenetic urethra tethering the corpora cavernosa as type Ⅳ patients (short urethra).Results In type Ⅰ (n=31, 32.9%) patients, the ventral skin and dartos fascia were contracted while Buck’s fascia and the urethra was normal, in some (7 cases) scrotal skin extended to the ventral portion of penis (webbed penis). In type Ⅱ (n=45, 47.9%), contracture of Buck’s fascia was evident and the thickening fibrotic tissue constituted the chief obstacle to orthoplasty, though in some skin was shortened. In type Ⅲ (n=6), the dorsal and ventral sides of the corpora cavernosa were disproportionated, and the morphologically normal urethra tightly adhered to the ventral aspect of corpora cavernosa. In some cases ventral skin and fascia were contracted, but orthoplasty could notbe achieved through releasing these layers. In type Ⅳ (n=12, 12.8%), the distal urethra was paper-thin and lacking corpus spongiosum, or dense fibrotic bandswere found to be deep to the urethra. The urethra tethered the corpora cavernosaand formed a bow-to-string relation. The overlying skin and fascia were contracted in varying degrees while none had significance in straightening the penis. After operation, the length of penis increased to 6.9 cm from 5.2 cm on average and the chordee was corrected to 1.6° from 42.6° before operation on average. The patients were followed up 1 months to 15 years. The results were satisfactory.Chordee remained in 2 cases, fistula and urethral stricture occurred in 2 casesrespectively, fistula in association with urethral stricture and diverticulum in 1 case; the operation was given again and the results was satisfactory. Conclusion Patients with chordee without hypospadias may be divided into four types depending on which layer of the ventral penis constitutes thechief contribution to chordee. A systematic approach with repeated artificial erection tests is needed in determining the classification and surgical correction.