Urethroplasty at Ahmadu Bello University Hospital, Zaria

One hundred and forty three patients who had urethroplasty for urethral stricture between 1980 and 1989 were reviewed. Their age ranged from nine to 75 years with a mean of 39 +/- 10.2 SD years. Infection caused stricture in 51% and trauma in 46.9%. Urethral trauma resulted mostly from road traffic accidents. The inflammatory strictures were located in the anterior urethra, whilst traumatic ones were in the bulbomembranous region. Urethroplasty was indicated as the initial treatment in 80.4% because the strictures were impassable or complicated by perineal sepsis or fistulae. In 16% urethroplasty was employed as an alternative to frequent or complicated urethral dilatation. Sixty (42%) patients had anastamotic urethroplasty while 54.5% had island patch urethroplasty using scrotal, penile or preputial island skin flap. The commonest late complication was restricture which occurred in 20.9% of the patients. Overall, 72% were satisfied with their treatment. Urethroplasty is advocated upon less strict indications as it cures the stricture and prevent the complications of repeated instrumentation.