Objectives: To assess the long-term results and efficiency of open reconstruction techniques for pediatric and adolescent post-traumatic urethral strictures.
Methods: A total of 75 patients who had undergone open reconstructive urethroplasty for post-traumatic bulbous or posterior urethral obliterative strictures resulting from pelvic fracture urethral injuries were retrospectively analyzed. The mean patient age was 12.3 years (range 6-17). Of the 75 patients, 38 had a bulbar stricture and 37 had posterior urethral obliteration. Perineal end-to-end anastomotic repair, urethral pull-through, and ureteral tube graft urethroplasty were performed in 54, 20, and 1 patient, respectively. All patients were followed up by medical history and a urinary flow rate evaluation at 6 and 12 months postoperatively.
Results: The patients were followed up for 12-94 months (mean 43.2). The urethral strictures were successfully treated with end-to-end anastomotic urethroplasty in 37 (68.5%) of 54 patients, urethral pull-through urethroplasty in 14 (70%) of 20 patients, and ureteral tube graft in 1 patient. The total primary success rate was 69.3% (52 of 75 patients). Recurrent stricture developed in 23 patients. Of these 23 patients, 7 and 11 were successfully treated with secondary end-to-end anastomosis and direct vision internal urethrotomy, respectively. The overall success rate was 93.3% (70 of 75 patients). Five patients with treatment failure were still in follow-up, with direct vision urethrotomy performed, as needed. No penile curvature, penile shortening, or urethral diverticula developed.
Conclusions: The results of our study have shown that open urethral reconstruction techniques are effective for primary and secondary surgical interventions in pediatric and adolescent patients with post-traumatic urethral strictures in experienced centers. These techniques provide excellent long-term results with minimal morbidity.
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