COMPLICATIONS OF SNODGRASS URETHROPLASTY IN PATIENTS WITH DISTAL AND MID PENILE HYPOSPADIAS

Background: Hypospadias is a common congenital anomaly in males, with surgical correction being the primary treatment. The Snodgrass urethroplasty, or tubularized incised plate (TIP) urethroplasty, is widely used for distal and mid-penile hypospadias repair. However, postoperative complications such as urethrocutaneous fistula and meatal stenosis remain clinical concerns. Objective: To assess the postoperative complications of Snodgrass urethroplasty in pediatric patients with distal and mid-penile hypospadias. Study Design: Descriptive cross-sectional study. Setting: Conducted at Hayatabad Medical Complex, Peshawar, a tertiary care plastic surgery unit. Duration of Study: 04-07-2024 to 04-01-2025. Methods: A total of 80 male patients, aged 1–10 years, diagnosed with distal or mid-penile hypospadias through physical examination, were enrolled. All patients underwent Snodgrass urethroplasty. Postoperative complications, specifically urethrocutaneous fistula and meatal stenosis, were assessed on the 30th postoperative day. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 22.0, and frequencies and percentages were calculated. Results: The mean age of the cohort was 5.79 ± 2.68 years. Distal hypospadias accounted for 87.5% of cases, while mid-penile hypospadias comprised 12.5%. Urethrocutaneous fistula was observed in 12.5% of patients, and meatal stenosis occurred in 6.25%. Complications were more frequently noted among patients with mid-penile hypospadias compared to those with distal variants. Conclusion: Snodgrass urethroplasty is an effective technique for correcting distal and mid-penile hypospadias, with acceptable complication rates. Urethrocutaneous fistula (12.5%) and meatal stenosis (6.25%) were the most common postoperative issues, particularly in patients with mid-penile hypospadias. Early identification and management of these complications are essential to improving surgical outcomes.