[Surgical approach of traumatic urethral injury in children. Experience at San Vicente of Paul Universitary Hospital. Medellín 1987-2007].
OBJECTIVE
In order to evaluate the efficacy of different surgical techniques for the correction of traumatic lesions of the urethra, we performed a retrospective study in those patients, and evaluated different complications such as postsurgical stenosis of the urethra, incontinence and impotence (erectile dysfunction).


METHODS
A retrospective study was conducted, reviewing the clinical charts of 43 patients admitted to the San Vicente of Paul Hospital, with diagnosis of traumatic rupture of the posterior urethra from 1987 to 2007. We analyzed different demographic data, type of surgical correction, early and late complications.


RESULTS
The average age of the patients was 7.7 years, the average follow up was 30.6 months, and all the patients were male with a posterior urethral rupture. 27 Patients underwent a primary urethral repair (63%), 13 patients underwent a cistostomy with later urologic reconstruction (30%), in 3 patients (7%) other surgical procedures were made. Overall complication rate was 39.5%. These complications were: Urethral stenosis, 26 patients (60.5%), urinary retention secondary to obstruction, 10 patients (23.3%), incontinence 10 patients (23.3%) and impotence 7 patients (16.3%). Patients treated with a primary urethral repair presented a significantly less development of infection, obstruction and stenosis, (p<0.05). Patients with pelvis fracture associated to urethral trauma had a significant higher risk of developing stenosis and impotence. (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Both different surgical techniques compared showed a similar complication and morbidity rates in middle follow up. Each procedure should be selected according to clinical condition of the patient, the extension of the urethral damage, the associated traumatic lesions and the surgeon's expertise. In our searched patients, treated with a primary urethral repair we found a significantly less development of infection, obstruction and stenosis.
Martínez Montoya
Jorge A
JA
Sección de Cirugía y Urología Pediátrica, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia. cxpediatrica@medicina.udea.edu.co
Tascón Acevedo
Natalia M
NM
D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014521:Urethra / Q000293:injuries* / Q000601:surgery*