Mechanism of continence after repair of post-traumatic posterior urethral strictures.

OBJECTIVES

To determine the mechanism of urinary continence after repair of post-traumatic posterior urethral strictures by perineal anastomotic urethroplasty.

METHODS

Two groups of male patients were enrolled in this study. Group 1 consisted of 8 patients (mean age 31 years) who had undergone bulboprostatic anastomotic urethroplasty for strictures complicating a pelvic fracture urethral disruption. Group 2 consisted of 8 patients (mean age 32.5 years) with a normal urethra who were used as controls. All 16 patients underwent urethral pressure profilometry both at rest and with cough and hold maneuvers.

RESULTS

In group I, urethral pressure profilometry showed much lower mean maximal urethral pressures and maximal urethral closure pressures, as well as a much shorter mean functional profile length than in group 2 (48 and 39 cm H(2)O versus 75 and 65 cm H(2)O and 2.4 versus 4 cm, respectively, P <0.0003). On cough maneuver, intra-abdominal pressure changes were transmitted along the entire functional profile length in group 1 and only along its first part in group 2. The hold maneuver increased urethral pressure in 5 patients (65%) in group 1 and in all 8 patients (100%) in group 2.

CONCLUSIONS

Continence after anastomotic urethroplasty for post-traumatic posterior urethral strictures is maintained solely by the proximal urethral mechanism. Transmission of intra-abdominal pressure changes and contraction of pelvic floor musculature may augment urethral closure in these cases during stress conditions.