[Traversing the vertical pedicle flap for the treatment of severely buried penis in children].

Objective: To assess the effect of traversing the vertical pedicle flap (TVPF) for the treatment of severely buried penis in children.
Methods: Totally 43 children with severely buried penis underwentTVPF (n = 21)or modifiedShiraki surgery (control, n = 22) in our hospitalfrom February to December 2014. Wecompared the operation time, intra-operation blood loss, foreskin swelling time, and parents' satisfaction with penile appearance between the two groups.
Results: No statistically significant differences were observed between the TVPFand control groups in the operation time (［45.0 ±6.8］ vs ［42.0 ±5.3］ min, P>0.05) or intra-operation blood loss(［5.0 ±1.2］ vs ［6.0 ±0.8］ ml, P>0.05). The average foreskin swelling time was markedly shorter in the TVPFgroup than in the control (［9.0 ±2.3］ vs ［15.0 ±4.8］ d, P<0.05)and the parents' satisfaction with penile appearancewas higher in the former than in the latter (95.23vs31.81 %, P<0.05). The elastic bandages were removedfor all the patientsat 3 days postoperatively, and 3 to 6-month follow-up revealed no penile retraction or relapse.
Conclusions: The method of traversing the vertical pedicle flap is a feasible surgical option for the treatment of severely buried penis in children, which can make a rational use of the foreskin,remove the tight ring, and achieve a satisfactory appearance of the penis.