Patients' Satisfaction with the Long-term Result of Hypospadias Surgery: A Questionnaire Study

Kim, Tae Hun; Lee, Sang Wook; Oh, Seung June; Choi, Hwang

Abstract

PURPOSE: Our aim was to evaluate patients' satisfaction with the results of their hypospadias surgery performed in childhood, and to establish any correlation with the kind of problems underlying the dissatisfaction with the outcome.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Ninety five hypospadias patients were enrolled in the study, They had all been operated on by a single surgeon at the Department of Pediatric Urology, Seoul National University Hospital. Their medical records were retrospectively reviewed to define the hypospadias classification, operations and complications. A detailed questionnaire was administered to the subjects via telephone interviews.
RESULTS
Eighty nine patients responded the questionnaire. Their mean age and duration of follow-up were 15.4 (range: 9-31) and 11 (range: 3-18) years, respectively. Of the responders, 24.7, 28.3 and 47% of the hypospadias were anterior, middle and posterior, respectively, and 66 (74.2%) patients were satisfied with the results. The satisfied subjects had fewer voiding problems than those not satisfied (p<0.01), and they were also more often satisfied with the appearance of their penis (p<0.01). Onlay, and transverse preputial, island flap methods gave more satisfaction than the Duplay method (p<0.05). There was no significant correlation between the presence of complications, penile size, erection or overall satisfaction, with the outcome of the procedure (p>0.05).
CONCLUSIONS
Most patients were satisfied with the surgical outcome. It seems that the overall appearance, as perceived by the patient, and patients' satisfaction with urination were important factors in producing good long-term results.