Comparison of uni-and bilateral buccal mucosa harvesting in terms of oral morbidity.

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the intraoral morbidity associated with uni- or bilateral buccal mucosa graft harvesting in the treatment of urethral stricture.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Forty-two men with anterior urethral stricture who were treated with dorsal onlay buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty were enrolled in this study. The graft was harvested from both cheeks in patients with a stricture length of ≥7 cm and from one cheek, if the stricture length was <7 cm. The postoperative pain scores, the time required both to return to a regular diet, and also to achieve full mouth opening, intrtaoral numbness and the salivary changes were compared between two groups.

RESULTS

The bilateral buccal mucosal graft harvest group was disadvantaged in terms of the 7(th) day pain score, the time required both to return to a regular diet also to achieve full mouth opening (p<0.05). No significant intergroup differences were found in the terms of salivary changes and intraoral numbness.

CONCLUSION

Although, intraoral morbidity of bilateral buccal mucosa graft harvesting is more marked than that of the unilateral harvesting, in the short term, it is well tolerated by the patients in the long term.