A combined vertical and horizontal pelvic osteotomy approach for primary and secondary repair of bladder exstrophy

Purpose: We describe a new combined horizontal and vertical pelvic osteotomy procedure for bladder exstrophy. Materials and Methods: A total of 36 patients with the bladder exstrophy complex underwent this procedure during a 3-year period (8 primary and 18 secondary bladder closures, and 6 at bladder neck reconstruction). Results: There were no instances of dehiscence and only a minor bladder prolapse in 1 patient with cloacal exstrophy. Two patients had a transient femoral nerve palsy and there was 1 superficial pin infection. Urological complications included symptomatic urinary tract infections in 5 patients, acute epididymitis in 1 and bladder calculi in 2. Conclusions: This new osteotomy procedure is of great benefit in initial or repeat closure of bladder exstrophy and may help in eventually achieving continence.