[Outcomes of early endoscopic realignment of post-traumatic posterior urethral ruptures]

INTRODUCTION

Post-traumatic rupture of the posterior urethra is a serious injury that can compromise the micturition and erectile prognosis of the often-young patient. The management of this lesion is still controversial, leaving the choice between early endoscopic realignment or suprapubic catheterization with deferred urethroplasty. The objective of this study was to report our clinical experience and outcomes with early endoscopic realignment (EER) for patients with pelvic fracture urethral injury.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We underwent a retrospective review of patients with pelvic fracture associated urethral injury who underwent EER from 2010 to 2020. Preoperative, perioperative, and postoperative outcome data were collected. Complications for the surgical procedure were analyzed, as well as postoperative stenosis, urinary incontinence and erectile dysfunction. The primary endpoint was success, defined as satisfying micturition with no urethral stricture at the time of last follow-up.

RESULTS

Early endoscopic realignment was performed in 26 patients managed for complete post-traumatic posterior urethral rupture. The median age was 26 (16-39) years. The most common mechanism of urethral injury was road traffic accidents in 69.23% of cases. The most common urethral injury was grade 4 in 23 patients (88.46%). The median time to endoscopic realignment was 8 days (3-18). The median time to postoperative bladder catheterization was 22 (10-32) days. The median follow-up time was 34 (18-54) months. Ten patients developed urethral stricture during follow-up: 7 (26.92%) were treated with one or two internal cold blade urethrotomies, 3 required urethroplasty. There were no urethroplasty failures after a first endoscopic realignment. Two patients reported severe stress urinary incontinence. The median IIEF-5 score at the date of last news was 23 (17-25).

CONCLUSION

Early endoscopic realignment allows some patients to avoid a heavier surgical treatment, and doesn't compromise the realization of a later urethroplasty.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3

Long-term outcome of primary endoscopic realignment for bulbous urethral injuries: risk factors of urethral stricture

Purpose

Although endoscopic realignment has been accepted as a standard treatment for urethral injuries, the long-term follow-up data on this procedure are not sufficient. We report the long-term outcome of primary endoscopic realignment in bulbous urethral injuries.

Methods

Patients with bulbous urethral injuries were treated by primary endoscopic realignment between 1991 and 2005. The operative procedure included suprapubic cystostomy and transurethral catheterization using a guide wire, within 72 hours of injury. The study population included 51 patients with a minimum follow-up duration of 5 years.

Results

The most common causes of the injuries were straddle injury from falling down (74.5%), and pelvic bone fracture (7.8%). Gross hematuria was the most common complaint (92.2%). Twenty-three patients (45.1%) had complete urethral injuries. The mean time to operation after the injury was 38.8±43.2 hours. The mean operation time and mean indwelling time of a urethral Foley catheter were 55.5±37.6 minutes and 22.0±11.9 days, respectively. Twenty out of 51 patients (39.2%) were diagnosed with urethral stricture in 89.1±36.6 months after surgery. A multivariate analysis revealed that young age and operation time were independent risk factors for strictures as a complication of urethral realignment (hazard ratio [HR], 6.554, P=0.032; HR, 6.206, P=0.035).

Conclusions

Urethral stricture commonly developed as a postoperative complication of primary endoscopic urethral realignment for bulbous urethral injury, especially in young age and long operation time.