Tunica albuginea versus buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty for anterior urethral stricture: A prospective randomised pilot study.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the study was to compare the outcome of tunica albuginea urethroplasty (TAU) and buccal mucosa graft (BMG) urethroplasty for anterior urethral stricture.

METHODS

Thirty patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomised into two groups: TAU (Group A) and BMG urethroplasty (Group B). Surgical outcome was evaluated with pre- and post-operative work-up involving retrograde urethrogram, voiding cystourethrogram, uroflowmetry, and urethroscopy. Patients were followed up till 1 year.

RESULTS

Mean duration of surgery was statistically significant between two groups (=0.0005). Maximum urine flow rate was comparable when compared between two groups (=0.22) but statistically significant when compared pre- and post-operatively (<0.001). At follow-up of 1 year, the successful outcomes were 80% in Group A and 87% in Group B. A total of five patients who had unsuccessful results required redo urethroplasty. Complications were minimal in both the groups.

CONCLUSION

TAU provides outcomes equivalent to those of BMG urethroplasty. TAU has less operative time, easy to perform, and beneficial in patients with poor oral hygiene.