[Urethrostenosis from Dupuytren to Guyon: "the tools and the men"]

Great progress has been made in the management of urethral narrowing during the second half of the 20th century owing to the appearance of urology as a specialty, to the spinoff of lithotripsy, to the motivation provided by the Argenteuil award and to the refinement of surgical tools. Progress was made in the exploration (impression dilatators, ball exploration) and treatment: permanent or progressive dilatation, cauterization, internal or external urethrotomy. Biographical notes are then given about the surgeons who made this progress possible: Amussat, Benique, Civiale, Desormeaux, Ducamp, Guillon, Heurteloup, Lallemand, Leroy D'Etioles, Maisonneuve, Reybard and Segalas.