Age ≤40 is an independent predictor of anastomotic urethroplasty and successful repair of bulbar urethral strictures.

BACKGROUND

Among men with bulbar strictures, we aimed to analyze stricture characteristics, repair type, and treatment success in younger versus older patient cohorts.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed our single surgeon database with patients undergoing bulbar urethroplasty from 2007 to 2017. This population was then age-stratified into ≤40 and >40-year-old cohorts. Exclusion criteria included patients with penile strictures and those with history of hypospadias. Patient characteristics, surgical approach, and outcome were compiled by medical record and database review. Criterion for success included functional emptying and lack of repeat surgical intervention. Parameters associated with failure were included in multivariate logistic regression models.

RESULTS

Eight hundred and fifty-three patients with bulbar strictures were identified, 231 patients (27.1%) ≤40 years old and 622 patients (72.9%) >40 years old. Mean stricture length was significantly longer in older men (2.3 vs. 2.7 cm, P=0.005). Excision and primary anastomosis (EPA) were more commonly utilized when managing younger compared to older patient groups (87% in ≤40 group, 77% in >40, P=0.0009). Younger men underwent significantly fewer endoscopic stricture treatments than older men (2.1 vs. 4.9, P=0.001). Traumatic etiology was more commonly attributable in the younger group (48% vs.17%, P<0.0001). Younger men presented less frequently with diabetes (1.7% vs. 21.7%, P<0.0001), coronary artery disease (0.4% vs. 19.1%, P<0.0001), and erectile dysfunction (11.5% vs. 29.2%, P<0.0001) relative to older men. Over a median follow-up of 52.4 months, success rates were higher in the ≤40 cohort (97.4%) than the >40 cohort (87.3%, P<0.0001). On multivariate logistic regression, independent predictors of urethroplasty success include younger age), utilization of EPA, and lack of pelvic radiation.

CONCLUSIONS

Although men ≤40 years old have a higher incidence of traumatic etiology, bulbar urethroplasty has a higher success rate when compared to patients >40 years old. Bulbar strictures are more amenable to EPA in the younger population, likely due to fewer endoscopic treatments and favorable tissue characteristics.