Our experience of proximal hypospadias repair using the Cloutier-Bracka technique at the Gynaeco-Obstetric and Paediatric Hospital, Yaounde-Cameroon.

BACKGROUND: In parts of Africa, routine circumcision is practised and sometimes even on children with hypospadias. The lack of preputial foreskin renders urethroplasty more difficult and often requires to use of a mucosal graft as described by Bracka.

OBJECTIVE: The authors describe their experience of hypospadias repair using Bracka's technique.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Over a period of 5 years, 100 cases of proximal hypospadias were operated in our institution. All patients aged 0-18 years who had already been circumcised were included in this study.

RESULTS: The outcome of the 12 cases operated according to Bracka's technique was analysed. The mean age was 11.5 years. The ectopic meatus was penoscrotal in three cases, scrotal in one case and perineal in eight cases. After reconstruction, the new meatus was sutured at the top of the glans in one case, at the prepuce in seven cases and at the penile midshaft in one case. The main complications noted were surgical site infection, wound dehiscence, residual chordee and urethrocutaneous fistula. No neourethral stenosis nor uretrocele was recorded.

DISCUSSION: The buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty as described by Bracka is associated with a lower risk of meatal strictures compared to other free mucosal grafts. The buccal mucosa is easier to harvest and causes less scarring than bladder mucosa.

CONCLUSION: Repair of severe hypospadias remains a challenge for paediatric surgeons. The functional and cosmetic outcomes depend on the choice of the donor site for the graft and objective assessment of successful reconstruction criteria during follow-up.