Effectiveness of Urethral Stent Irrigation in Preventing Surgical Site Infections in Adolescents With Hypospadias: A Multicenter Randomized Controlled Trial

Hypospadias is one of the most common genital developmental malformations in pediatric patients, with a prevalence of approximately 0.5%. The primary manifestations of hypospadias include an ectopic urethral opening, penile recurvature, and abnormal distribution of the prepuce. Currently, urethroplasty is the only treatment for hypospadias, with surgery recommended within the first three years of life. However, due to economic, cultural, and social factors, many children miss the optimal age for surgery and require initial or re-repair surgery during puberty. Additionally, some children who underwent hypospadias repair before puberty develop penile recurvature and other complications during adolescence, necessitating reoperation. Physiological changes during puberty, such as penile growth, pubic hair development, increased skin appendages, secretions, and frequency of erections, increase the risk of wound infection and poor healing post-surgery. To address these issues, we placed a stent in the reconstructed urethra of adolescents with hypospadias and performed urethral irrigation postoperatively.