Urethral compression procedure for the treatment of male urinary incontinence.

We believe that there still is a place for passive compression of the bulbous urethra in the treatment of male urinary incontinence after prostatectomy or sphincterotomy. The procedure is simple to do and it is relatively free of complications. However, since it provides only passive resistance and cannot compensate for sudden increases in intravesical pressure, stress incontinence of minor degree is not uncommon. In our series of 184 cases 61 (33 per cent) became completely dry, required no protection and voided with a good stream and without residual urine. Another 51 patients had some stress incontinence but were pleased with the results so that 61 per cent derived definite benefit from the operation. There were 20 (11 per cent) major complications in this series. With recent modifications of the technique and the prosthesis the complication rate has been reduced to 7 per cent in the last 50 cases. The opportunity to adjust the compression postoperatively by injection provides advantages over other passive compression procedures.