Congenital Anterior Urethrocutaneous Fistula
Resource
JOURNAL OF UROLOGY v.162 n.4 pp.1430-1432
Journal
JOURNAL OF UROLOGY
Journal Volume
v.162
Journal Issue
n.4
Pages
1430-1432
Date Issued
1999
Date
1999
Author(s)
CALDAMONE, ANTHONY A.
CHEN, SHYH-CHYAN
ELDER, JACK S.
RITCHEY, MICHAEL L.
DIAMOND, DAVID A.
KOYLE, MARTIN A.
Abstract
Purpose: Congenital anterior urethrocutaneous fistula is a rare anomaly that may present in an isolated fashion or in association with other penile abnormalities, such as chordee or hypospadias. There have been 18 cases of congenital anterior urethrocutaneous fistula reported in the literature . We present 14 additional cases of congenital anterior urethrocutaneous fistula. Materials and Methods: We treated 14 patients with congenital anterior urethrocutaneous fistula, of whom 9 were uncircumcised at presentation. Two patients had evidence of chordee and 4 had distal hypospadias. Results: The type of repair was determined by the anatomical variations of this anomaly. All cases were corrected electively by various techniques based on the degree of the defect, including primary closure via a Thiersch-Duplay urethroplasty, pedicle flap urethroplasty, hinged flap urethroplasty and interpositioned island pedicle tube or onlay urethroplasty. Conclusions: To our knowledge the embryological events that cause anterior urethrocutaneous fistula are unclear but they likely result from a defective urethral plate or an abnormality of the infolding of the urethral groove. Surgical technique must be individualized to fit the defect. While there has been considerable skepticism regarding the existence of congenital urethrocutaneous fistula, the fact that 9 of our 14 patients were uncircumcised confirms the congenital nature of this lesion.
Subjects
abnormalities
penis
urethra
fistula
PENILE URETHRA