[Surgical management of the distal urethral stricture diseases]

To evaluate the surgical methods for treating distal urethral stricture.

The clinical data of 80 patients with distal urethral stricture in Beijing Jishuitan Hospital, Captial Medical University between January 2018 and December 2022 were retrospectively collected. Including male genital lichen sclerosus (MGLS) 33 cases, iatrogenic injury 25 cases, postoperative hypospadias 12 cases, and other causes such as trauma 10 cases. Among these cases, strictures involved the urethral meatus in 54 instances, of which 38 were treated with meatotomy (MO), 7 with penile skin flap urethroplasty (PSFU), and 9 with oral mucosa graft urethroplasty (OMGU). There were also 26 instances where strictures involved both the navicular fossa and meatus; one case underwent PSFU while 25 underwent OMGU. Based on different surgical methods used for treatment purposes we divided the patients into MO group, PSFU group and OMGU group. The age of the three groups was (48.8±20.0) years, (53.3±21.8) years and (44.5±16.4) years. The mean±SD body mass index (BMI) was (28.6±3.9) kg/m², (29.6±3.2) kg/m² and (29.2±4.8) kg/m². The preoperative maximum flow rate was (5.8±2.3) mL/s, (6.8±2.4) mL/s and (5.7±3.1) mL/s.

All the operations were successfully completed without Clavien Ⅲ or Ⅳ complications. The median length of strictures (measured intraoperatively) in the three groups were 1.1 (1.0, 1.6), 1.5 (1.1, 2.0) and 4.0 (2.5, 5.0) cm. The median operation time was 60.0 (60.0, 75.0), 85.0 (75.0, 112.5) and 180.0 (75.0, 330.0) min. The median estimated blood loss was 5.0 (2.0, 10.0), 15.0 (5.0, 42.5) and 180.0 (135.0, 216.3) mL. The median postoperative hospital stay was 3.5 (2.0, 5.0), 6.5 (3.5, 7.0) and 7.5 (7.0, 11.3) days. The median follow-up duration was 40.0 (26.3, 57.3), 55.0 (18.8, 62.8) and 52.5 (30.5, 64.0) months. The median postoperative maximum flow rate was 18.3 (15.5, 19.8), 19.2 (16.1, 20.1) and 17.2 (14.2, 19.6) mL/s. Among the 38 patients with MO, 33 cases had normal urination without reintervention, and 5 cases experienced recurrent strictures and required regular urethral dilation. Among the 8 patients with PSFU, 7 cases had normal urination without reintervention, and one case developed a urinary fistula, for which intervention was recommended but the patient opted to maintain the status quo. Among the 34 patients with OMGU, 28 cases had normal urination without reintervention. There were 6 instances of stenosis recurrence, with 5 cases requiring regular urethral dilations and one case requiring reconstructive surgery. The overall success rate of operation was 85.0%, and the reintervention rate was 15.0%. Statistical analysis revealed significant differences in etiologies among the three groups (P=0.002), as well as in stricture locations (P < 0.001), length of strictures (P < 0.001), operation time (P < 0.001), estimated blood loss (P < 0.001) and postoperative hospital stays (P < 0.001). However, no significant differences were observed in terms of age, BMI, history of previous urethral stricture surgeries, preoperative maximum flow rate, follow-up duration, postoperative maximum flow rate and reintervention rate. Univariate and multivariate Logistic regression analyses indicated that a history of previous urethral stricture surgeries was a risk factor for postoperative reintervention (P=0.026).

MO and PSFU are primarily suitable for treating short-segment (≤1.5 cm) distal penile urethral strictures, whereas OMGU is more appropriate for longer segment strictures. MO and OMGU can both be utilized in managing MGLS cases. PSFU and OMGU are more conducive to improving the appearance of the urethral meatus. The success rate of surgical management of distal penile urethral stricture is 85.0%, 15.0% of the patients still require surgical intervention after surgery, and having history of previous urethral stricture surgeries is a risk factor for postoperative reintervention.