The meatal mobilization technique for coronal/subcoronal hypospadias repair

OBJECTIVE: To describe meatal mobilization (MEMO) by distal urethral preparation as an improved surgical technique for distal hypospadias repair, including glanular, coronal and subcoronal location of the meatus, with or without chordee. PATIENTS AND METHODS: From May 2002 to June 2006, 46 patients (mean age 3.8 years, range 1.5-14) had a repair of glanular, coronal and subcoronal hypospadias using the MEMO technique. A description of the procedure and the results are presented. RESULTS: The mean duration of surgery was 73 min; there were no complications during surgery in any of the patients. The follow-up was 28.5 months; after surgery one patient developed a haematoma, which resolved with no further treatment. There was neither recurrence nor any new episode of chordee or meatal stenosis. None of the patients developed a urethral fistula. In one patient the meatus retracted but remained in the glans. CONCLUSIONS: Complications were minimal and the cosmetic results excellent using the MEMO technique for correcting most of distal hypospadias.