Reply to letter to the editor: "Plate Objective Scoring Tool (POST) in distal hypospadias: Correlation with post-repair complications"

Abstract

We extend our sincere gratitude to the authors for their thoughtful and insightful letter concerning our article titled "Plate Objective Scoring Tool (POST) in distal hypospadias: Correlation with post-repair complications." Their contribution adds valuable perspective to our research, and we are pleased to address their points in detail. First and foremost, we wholeheartedly agree with the acknowledgment that the urethral plate represents just one variable within the complex landscape of factors influencing hypospadias surgery outcomes. As emphasized in one of our reports, the concept of the "hypospadias ecosystem" underscores the interconnectedness and synergistic impact of various anatomical variables, surgical interventions, and genetic factors. We are actively engaged in ongoing research to validate multiple facets of POST, including its interaction with surgeon experience, genetic variances, and alternative surgical techniques beyond TIPU. Furthermore, we fully acknowledge the necessity of expanding our investigation beyond the confines of TIPU alone. Our current efforts are directed toward exploring the role of POST in conjunction with other "urethral plate augmentation" techniques, thereby broadening the scope of our findings to encompass a wider array of surgical interventions commonly employed in hypospadias repair.