Dorsal onlay buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty for bulbar urethral stricture: a single centre experience

Abstract

Introduction: the successful treatment for urethral strictures demands not just attention to surgical details but careful selection of the reconstructive technique. For long segment urethral strictures substitution urethroplasty is required. This study sought to determine the success rate and complications of dorsal onlay buccal mucosal graft (BMG) urethroplasty for long segment urethral strictures in our hospital.

Methods: this was a retrospective study carried out at Jos University Teaching Hospital from March 2015 to March 2018. The case notes of male patients who had dorsal onlay buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty for long segment bulbar urethral stricture within the study period were retrieved. Patients´ demographics, cause and nature of urethral strictures, duration of follow up, the success rate and complications were collected and subjected to statistical analysis using SPSS® version 22.

Results: twenty-four men with mean age of 45 years (range 14-67 years) had dorsal onlay buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty during the study period. The mean stricture length was 4.5cm (range, 2-7cm). After a mean follow up duration of 2 years (range, 1 - 4 years), 21(87.5%) patients had a successful urethroplasty as they were able to pass urine at one year post urethroplasty without lower urinary tract symptoms, while 3(12.5%) had recurrence of the urethral stricture. At the recipient site, 2(8.3%) patients had primary bleeding that did not require blood transfusion. Also, 2(8.3%) patients had superficial wound infection which was treated with antibiotics. At the donor site, 4(16.7%), 2(8.3%), 4(16.7%) had donor site swelling, transient bleeding and soreness respectively.

Conclusion: dorsal onlay BMG urethroplasty has a good success rate and minor complications and therefore suitable for long segment bulbar urethral strictures.