Complications of free-flap procedures for phalloplasty in female-to-male transgender surgery: 25-year experience a single medical center.

BACKGROUND

To present the complications of free-flap phalloplasty in three-staged female-to-male transgender surgery.

METHODS

This retrospective study included patients who underwent a three-staged free-flap phalloplasty for female-to-male transgender surgery between January 1988 and December 2013. Data regarding demographics, operative techniques, and complications were collected and analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 101 patients with a mean age of 30.2 years were included. Phalloplasty with traditional free forearm tube-in-tube fasciocutaneous flap was performed in 25 (24.8%) patients, free forearm fasciocutaneous flap with vaginal mucosa for a prefabricated urethra in 30 (29.7%) patients, free radial forearm osteocutaneous flap with vaginal mucosa for a prefabricated urethra in 22 (21.8%) patients, and free fibula osteocutaneous flap with vaginal mucosa for a prefabricated urethra in 24 (23.8%) patients. Complication rates of partial flap loss, urethrocutaneous fistula, urethral stricture, and hair or stone formation were 12.9%, 49.5%, 24.8%, and 5.0%, respectively. Patients receiving fibula osteocutaneous flap phalloplasty had the lowest overall complication rate (33.3%), followed by those with radial forearm osteocutaneous flap (40.9%), forearm fasciocutaneous flap (43.3%), and forearm tube-in-tube fasciocutaneous flap (80.0%). Forearm tube-in-tube fasciocutaneous flap procedure was associated with significantly higher rates of overall complications (p = 0.05), urethrocutaneous fistula (p = 0.005), and hair or stone formation (p = 0.002) compared with the other three types of procedures. Rates of all complications did not significantly differ among fibula osteocutaneous flap, radial forearm osteocutaneous flap, and forearm fasciocutaneous flap procedures.

CONCLUSION

In free-flap phalloplasty for female-to-male transgender surgery, utilization of free fibula osteocutaneous flap with vaginal mucosa for a prefabricated urethra resulted in the lowest complication rate. Further comparisons among different procedures of phalloplasty are warranted.