Open Access

RESIDENT’S CORNER

The utility of buccal mucosa graft in salvage urethroplasty

G. Weinberg¹, P. E. Williot², M. P. Leonard¹

1 Division of Urology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
2 Division of Urology, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein University, Bronx, New York, USA
Address correspondence to Dr. Garry Weinberg, Urology Resident, University of Ottawa,307-60 McLeod Street, Ottawa, Ontario K2P 2Gl Canada

Canadian Journal of Urology 2002, 9(5), 1641-1645.

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate our results with buccal mucosa free grafts in salvage urethroplasty.
Patients and methods: Retrospective chart review of autologous buccal mucosa grafts for urethral reconstruction at Winnipeg Children's Hospital and Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario between November 1992 and March 2000.
Results: Nine patients ( median age 4 years) underwent such reconstruction. Seven of the nine patients had experienced failed previous attempts at hypospadias repair. Onlay grafts were used in all but one patient who required a tube graft. Urethrocutaneous fistula was the most common post-operative complication, affecting four of nine patients. Two patients developed urethral strictures and one a meatal stenosis. Satisfactory functional results were ultimately achieved in all patients. Harvest site complications were minimal.
Conclusions: Buccal mucosa is a readily available and useful source for urethral grafting material, but should only be used in patients with insufficient penile skin. Grafts may be used as onlays or tubes. It is our experience that despite precautionary measures,fistulae and strictures are common.

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Keywords

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