Posttraumatic Posterior Urethral Strictures in Children: A 20-Year Experience

Abstract

We attempted to identify the particular features of strictures complicating pelvic fracture urethral injuries in children. A total of 68 boys 3 to 15 years old who had sustained pelvic fracture urethral disruption underwent 78 urethroplasties performed by bulboprostatic anastomosis through the perineum in 42, transpubically in 23 and by 2-stage urethroscrotal inlay in 13. Perineal and transurethral urethroplasty was successful in 93 and 91% of cases respectively. There was a 54% failure rate after urethroscrotal inlay. Urethral strictures were most commonly associated with Malgaigne's fracture (35% of cases) and straddle fracture with or without diastasis of the sacroiliac joint (26%). Strictures were almost invariably inferior to the verumontanum with prostatic displacement in 44% of cases. Length of the strictured segment may be overestimated or underestimated on urethrography as a result of incomplete filling of the prostatic urethra or a urinoma cavity connected with the proximal segment, respectively. Perineal or transpubic bulboprostatic anastomosis is the best treatment for posttraumatic strictures, while internal urethrotomy should be avoided since it may compromise the chance of subsequent anastomotic urethroplasty. Repair of associated bladder neck incompetence may be deferred until the resumption of urethral voiding after urethroplasty, when incontinence can be documented.