[Urethral stenosis in children. Apropos of 33 pediatric cases].

Urethral stenosis in children is rare. Between 1961 and 1993, only five specific retrospective studies were published. Between January 1987 and December 1992, thirty-three children, i.e. thirty boys and three girls, were observed in our institution for urethral stenosis. Their ages ranged from two and half months to seventeen years. Etiology was congenital in six, traumatic in two, inflammatory in two and iatrogenic in thirteen patients. In additions, ten stenoses were consecutive with hypospadias repair. Seventeen patients underwent first-line endoscopic internal urethrotomy. Success rate was ninety-one percent. Two patients underwent a successful second similar procedure. Repeating this procedure more than twice and second-line urethrotomy doesn't improve success rate. It appeared that internal urethrotomy proved to be more effective in short and recent stenosis. Fourteen patients underwent urethroplasty by using various techniques, of whom only five first-line urethroplasty. Its indication in case of multioperated or complicated stenoses may explain the poor global success rate of about fifty percent.