Tailored sutureless meatoplasty: a new technique for correcting meatal stenosis

Standard practice for meatoplasty includes the use of sutures to evert the mucosa. We present a novel technique that is equivalent to standard meatoplasty without the need for suturing.

A retrospective chart review was performed of patients who presented with primary meatal stenosis in 2007-2009. One group underwent a tailored, sutureless meatoplasty performed by one surgeon. The second group underwent a standard meatoplasty with mucosal advancement and suturing of the mucosal edges by another surgeon. Data were collected regarding demographics, presenting symptoms, symptom resolution, and postoperative complications. These were then compared between the two groups. Preoperative and postoperative uroflowmetry data were collected for the sutureless group to demonstrate objective improvement.

Of 85 patients, aged 2-17 years, 60 underwent the tailored, sutureless procedure while 25 had a standard meatoplasty. The majority of patients presented with a deviated and/or narrowed stream of urine. There was no statistical difference between the two groups in regard to symptom resolution. Uroflowmetry data analyzed for 20 patients in the sutureless group demonstrated a significant improvement in Q(max) and flow pattern; there was no significant change in % post-void residual. No patient had a complication in either group, or presented with recurrence.

Tailored sutureless meatoplasty is comparable to meatoplasty with mucosal advancement in resolving symptoms, improving uroflowmetry parameters, and complication rate, but is more efficient and cost effective.