Objectives: To evaluate the results of skin graft urethroplasty (SGU) in the management of urethral stricture.
Material and methods: Twenty eight patients, with a mean age of 54 years, treated by SGU were reviewed with a mean follow-up of 24.5 months (range: 1-66). The first-line material skin graft material was the foreskin or, in its absence, the penile skin or skin of the arm was used.
Results: This study demonstrated a satisfactory result (no clinical signs, maximum flow rate > or = 15 ml/s, no need for salvage surgery) in 67.9% of cases. Although the early complication rate was low, 8 stenoses were observed during subsequent follow-up; 3 of which required open surgical revision. The other relapses were treated by internal urethrotomy or hetero- or autodilatations. This study showed that urine sterility at the time of surgery was a decisive factor.
Conclusion: The preferential indication for this type of urethroplasty remains a bulbar urethral stricture with sterile urine. However, the aetiology and length of the stricture are not discriminant factors.