Management of "watering-can" perineum

To review the management of watering-can perineum (WCP) in a Nigerian centre and to outline challenges of its management.

A retrospective review of cases of watering-can perineum over a seven-year period.

Usmanu Danfodiyo University Teaching Hospital, Sokoto, a Nigerian tertiary health centre.

Forty one patients with the diagnosis of watering-can perineum managed from January 1997 to December, 2003.

There were 41 cases of watering-can perineum. The mean age at presentation was 46.0 years (range: 7 to 80). Characteristically, all the patients had long standing neglected urethral stricture. Eighteen (43.9%) presented with single active fistulae while eight (19.5%) had more than four (9.8%) active external openings. Fistulae were located in the perineum (58.5%), scrotum (41.6%), penis (14.6%), penoscrotal junction (9.8%) and thigh (49%). The strictures were post inflammatory in 73% of patients. Bulbar strictures constituted 63.4% of cases. At presentation, patients were in general planned for initial suprapubic cystostomy (SPC) followed by assessment of stricture and finally urethroplasty in six months. Patients who could not afford urethroplasty were offered dilatation. The immediate outcome of urethroplasty was satisfactory in 70.6% of patients.

Watering-can perineum was a common sequel of long standing neglected inflammatory urethral stricture. SPC followed by urethroplasty gave the best results. Prevention and adequate treatment of urethritis, prompt treatment of urethral stricture, and affordable and accessible reconstructive urologic service are recommended to reduce the incidence of WCP and suffering of the patients.