Objective: To compare the outcomes of dorsal onlay graft urethroplasty using penile skin (PS) or buccal mucosa (BM) free grafts in the repair of adult bulbourethral strictures.
Methods: From January 1998 to March 2003, 30 patients with bulbar urethral strictures underwent urethral reconstruction with PS (17) or with BM free graft (13). Follow-up was done at 6, 12 and 18 months postoperatively, and every year subsequently. Success was defined as normalization of IPSS and a stable Q(max) value >20 ml/s. Any further instrumentation for stricture recurrence was considered a failure.
Results: Mean follow-up was 51 months (20-74). The overall success rate was 80% (85% in the BM and 76% in the PS group). Improvement of uroflowmetry, IPSS and QoL did not show a significant difference between the two groups. A significant improvement of the orgasmic function domain of the IIEF was found in patients treated with a PS graft. Post-operative complications were lip hypoesthesia (30%), retraction of the ventral skin of the penis (7%), post-voiding dribbling (8% with BM graft, and 7%, with PS graft). Six patients, 2 with BM (15%) and 4 with PS graft patch (24%) required further treatment due to stricture recurrence.
Conclusion: Results of PS or BM graft are comparable at 18 month follow-up, although orgasmic function is significantly improved in patients receiving a PS graft. Nevertheless, with extended follow-up, the use of PS seems to be associated with a higher failure rate.