Editorial Comment

Abstract

The findings reported in the literature are disparate in regard to the morbidity associated with closure vs nonclosure of the buccal mucosal harvest site when buccal mucosa is used in urethroplasty. The types of problems that have been reported with buccal mucosal harvest are pain, salivary changes, difficulty with full opening of the mouth and peri-oral numbness. In the literature, these complications have been categorized into either short or long-term problems. Effect of Wound Closure on Buccal Mucosal Graft Harvest Site Morbidity: Results of a Randomized Prospective TrialUrologyVol. 79Issue 2PreviewTo determine the effect of closure versus nonclosure of the buccal mucosal graft harvest site in men undergoing bulbar urethroplasty in a randomized prospective study. The optimal postoperative management of the buccal mucosal graft donor site remains unknown. Full-Text PDF ReplyUrologyVol. 79Issue 2PreviewAlthough the randomized clinical trial represents the ideal method of definitively answering a clinical question, there is a relative paucity of these studies in the urological literature. The use of randomized trials in surgery has been debated, with opposing views focusing on the common limiting factors of time, cost, effort, and planning associated with performing a well-done prospective trial.1 It has also been argued that the subspecialty of reconstructive urology itself may not be amenable to randomized clinical trials because of variability in disease presentation, complex comorbid patient concerns, and the wide range of surgical techniques intrinsic to the “art” of reconstructive surgery. Full-Text PDF