Urethral closure in management of urinary incontinence.

Urethral closure with suprapubic catheterization has been used in 50 patients with urethral destruction due to an indwelling catheter. Thirty-seven of the patients were dry after the initial operation. Long-term complications were seen in 33 patients. Those that did occur were not life threatening. This relatively minor procedure offers a good alternative to formal diversion in this group of severely disabled patients.