The efficacy of dihydrotestosterone transdermal gel before primary hypospadias surgery: a prospective, controlled, randomized study.

Abstract

PURPOSE:

We sought to evaluate the efficacy of transdermal dihydrotestosterone treatment based on the results of hypospadias repair in children with primary hypospadias.

MATERIALS AND METHODS:

A total of 75 randomized consecutive children who were a mean of 33.4 +/- 3.7 months old and had primary hypospadias were included in the study between September 2004 and April 2006. While 37 children were treated with 2.5% transdermal gel daily, applied directly onto the penile shaft and glans for 3 months (group 1), 38 children did not receive any treatment preoperatively (group 2). All children underwent hypospadias repair using tubularized incised plate urethroplasty. Postoperative complications were analyzed using the Mann-Whitney U test with respect to fistulas, urethral strictures, diverticula, meatal stenosis, glanular dehiscence and scar formation according to the results at 1-year followup.

RESULTS:

Mean ages of the children in groups 1 and 2 were similar (30.8 +/- 5.4 months and 35.1 +/- 5.1 months, respectively). The urethral meatus was coronal in 70%, penile in 24% and penoscrotal in 5% of the patients in group 1, while it was coronal in 84% and penile in 16% of the patients in group 2. Postoperative complications included urethrocutaneous fistula in 4 patients (11%) in group 2, compared to 1 patient (3%) in group 1 (p >0.05). While 3 patients (8%) in group 2 had glanular dehiscence, no patient in the dihydrotestosterone group had this complication (p <0.05). There were 2 patients with meatal stenosis in group 2 (5%), and no patient with meatal stenosis in group 1 (p >0.05). In addition, there were 16 patients (42%) with moderate to severe postoperative scar formation in group 2, compared to only 2 patients (5%) in the dihydrotestosterone group (p <0.05). Finally, there was a significant difference between the overall reoperation rates of group 2 (9 patients, 24%) and group 1 (1 patient, 3%, p <0.05). None of our patients had signs or symptoms of urethral stricture or urethral diverticulum.

CONCLUSIONS:

Pretreatment with dihydrotestosterone transdermal gel was effective in decreasing the complications and improving the cosmetic results after hypospadias repair.

• Authors: Cevdet Kaya, J Bektic, C Radmayr, C Schwentner, G Bartsch, J Oswald
• Journal: The Journal of urology (J Urol) Vol. 179 Issue 2 Pg. 684-8 (Feb 2008) ISSN: 1527-3792 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 18082206 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Randomized Controlled Trial)

Chemical References

• Androgens
• Gels
• Dihydrotestosterone

Topics

• Administration, Cutaneous
• Androgens (administration & dosage)
• Child, Preschool
• Dihydrotestosterone (administration & dosage)
• Gels
• Humans
• Hypospadias (pathology, surgery)
• Male
• Premedication
• Prospective Studies
• Treatment Outcome