PURPOSE: We evaluate specific indications, patient selection and complications of the AMS800 artificial sphincter in children and adolescents with sphincteric incontinence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 1987 and 1997, 39 males and 10 females with a mean age of 14 years (range 7 to 20) with sphincter deficiency underwent artificial urinary sphincter placement. The underlying etiology of incontinence was myelodysplasia in 38 patients, exstrophy-epispadias complex in 7 and urethral trauma in 4. All patients underwent preoperatively conventional urodynamic investigations. Augmentation cystoplasty was done in 9 patients before sphincter implantation and both procedures were performed simultaneously in 2 cases. The cuff was adjusted around the bladder neck in 37 patients and around the bulbar urethra in 12. Followup ranged from 2 to 11 years (mean 7.5). RESULTS: There were 54 sphincter implants in 49 patients. Of the 49 patients 33 (67%) achieved continence, 9 had substantial improvement and 7 remained unchanged after surgery. Erosion occurred in 10 patients due to sphincter infection in 2, mechanical failure in 6 and postoperative changes in bladder behavior in 2. Of these 10 patients with erosion 5 are incontinent and awaiting sphincter replacement, 2 required bladder neck closure and appendicovesicostomy, and 3 are dry without prosthetic replacement. Mean time to erosion was 24.9 months (range 1 month to 9 years), and 3 erosions occurred within 3 months of sphincter placement. Of the 6 patients with mechanical problems 5 regained continence after successful replacement of the sphincter. Only 2 of the 49 cases had postoperative detrusor overactivity requiring augmentation after surgery. Of the 29 patients who performed clean intermittent catheterization preoperatively 3 no longer needed it after implantation of the prosthesis. Finally, 25 (86%) of the 29 patients with a cuff placed around the bladder neck and with no previous surgical repairs at this site achieved continence after implantation whereas only 3 (37.5%) of 8 patients who had undergone prior bladder neck surgical procedures became continent. CONCLUSIONS: This study supports previous reports that the artificial urinary sphincter is effective therapy for sphincteric incontinence. Additionally, in our study previous surgical procedures on the lower urinary tract before sphincter placement increased significantly the rate of postoperative complications.