Complications of Primary Closure of Classic Bladder Exstrophy

Purpose: We report the urological, orthopedic and neurological complications of primary closure of classic bladder exstrophy using modern staged repair of exstrophy.Materials and Methods: An approved database identified 137 males and 57 females with classic bladder exstrophy who underwent primary repair by 1 of 2 surgeons in 23 years. A total of 185 patients underwent primary closure using modern staged repair of exstrophy with or without osteotomies, whereas 9 underwent delayed primary closure with epispadias repair at age 12 months. Of the patients 63 received osteotomies. Mean age at closure was 60 days and mean followup was 9 years.Results: There were 14 major complications (11%) and 27 minor complications (14%). Major urological complications included bladder prolapse or dehiscence in 6 male patients (3%), which was successfully reclosed. Major orthopedic complications, including osteotomy nonunion in 2 cases, leg length inequality in 1 and persistent joint pain in 1, developed in 4 of the 63 patient...