Buccal mucosal grafts: lessons learned from an 8-year experience.

PURPOSE: We evaluated our 8-year experience with buccal mucosal grafts in complex hypospadias and epispadias repair.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

We reviewed the records of 29 patients in whom a total of 30 buccal mucosal grafts were placed as part of urethral reconstruction between 1991 and 1999. At surgery 16 tubes and 14 onlays were constructed and 24 of 30 repairs involved the meatus. All patients were followed at least 6 months postoperatively (median 5.3 years). Beginning in 1995 meatal design was enlarged to a racquet handle shape and patients were asked to perform meatal self-dilation for 6 months postoperatively.

RESULTS

Complications developed in 17 of our 30 cases (57%) and reoperation was done in 10 (33%). All complications were evident by 11 months postoperatively except 1 that presented as recurrent stricture disease at 3 years. Complications developed in 5 and 12 of 15 patients who underwent surgery between 1995 and 1999, and before 1995, respectively (p = 0.027). No patient has had meatal stenosis since 1995. Complications included meatal stenosis in 5 cases, stricture in 7, glanuloplasty, meatal and complete graft breakdown in 1 each, and fistula in 2. Onlays were more likely to result in stricture than tube grafts (6 of 14 cases versus 1 of 16, p = 0.034).

CONCLUSIONS

The complication and reoperation rates of buccal mucosal grafts are 57% and 33% at 5 years of followup. Changes in meatal design and temporary postoperative meatal dilation have improved the outcome in the last 5 years. Buccal mucosa remains a good choice in patients who require extragenital skin for urethral reconstruction.