Exstrophy in the adolescent and young adult population

The bladder exstrophy-epispadias-cloacal exstrophy complex is a spectrum of genitourinary malformations requiring multiple major reconstructive operations on each affected child. The need for surgical correction in this condition often continues through adolescence and into adulthood. Experience in caring for individuals with exstrophy-epispadias has taught us a great deal about the long-term functional, psychological, and social outcomes involved. Children undergoing repeated hospital admissions and extensive multiple operations have the potential for long-term adjustment problems with incontinence, ambulatory difficulties, psychological disturbance, sexual dysfunction, and issues surrounding self-esteem and social integration. By examining relevant published works from the world literature over the last 20 years, in this article we address with each of these areas and offers some insight into the ongoing issues. (C) 2011 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.