The use and efficacy of the American Urological Association Symptom Index in assessing the outcome of urethroplasty for post-traumatic complete posterior urethral strictures.

OBJECTIVE

To determine if the American Urological Association (AUA) Symptom Index is an accurate and reliable instrument for use in assessing the outcome after urethroplasty.

PATIENTS AND

METHODS

The AUA Symptom Index questionnaire was answered by 33 men (mean age 31.3 years) who underwent end-to-end urethral reconstruction after complete urethral disruption; the index was completed at a mean of 6 months after surgery. The scores were then correlated with maximum flow rates (Qmax) and presence of re-stenosis on retrograde urethrography.

RESULTS

The initial mean (SD) AUA score was 10.42 (9.6) and the Qmax 22.12 (9.37) mL/s. Of the 33 patients, six (18%) had re-stenosis, with a mean score of 30 and Qmax of 6 mL/s. There was a significant inverse correlation between the AUA symptom score and Qmax (r = - 0.401, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

The AUA Symptom Index is inversely correlated with Qmax and may indicate the presence of re-stenosis after urethroplasty. The AUA score can thus be used as a cost-effective and easy method in the first-line screening of the outcome of urethroplasty.