title: Patch urethroplasty using a fascia lata autograft in male rabbits.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Urethral reconstruction is difficult when the genital skin is not available for surgery. We evaluate the feasibility of using the autologous fascia lata as a graft for urethral repair.
  
  
  METHODS
  10 male rabbits underwent urethroplasty after creation of a ventral urethral defect. The defect was repaired using a graft harvested from the fascia lata. The animals were divided into three groups and sacrificed at 2, 4 and 12 weeks postoperatively. Radiologic control was performed after 10-12 days and before sacrifice.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In the 10 rabbits subjected to surgery, no case of death or wound infection was observed. During urethrography, a fistula was observed in 2 animals. In the remainder (n = 8), histological analysis showed the preservation of the original laminar structure without graft shrinkage or fibrosis. On the luminal side of the patch, a new line of urothelium appeared in the 2nd week after surgery. After 3 months, the new epithelium was multilayered and the graft edges were not detectable. No voiding dysfunction was detectable in 8 rabbits.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our study suggests the feasibility of using the autologous fascia lata for urethral patch repair.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D005206:Fascia Lata / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000637:transplantation*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D008297:Male; D011817:Rabbits; D014521:Urethra / Q000601:surgery*