Dorsal urethroplasty with labia minora skin graft for female urethral strictures.
OBJECTIVE
to report a new dorsal labia minora skin-graft urethroplasty as a simple, safe and effective therapeutic alternative for female urethral strictures, as although distal urethral strictures can be treated by meatoplasty, proximal and mid-urethral strictures need appropriate urethroplasty.


METHODS
eight women with a confirmed proximal or mid-urethral stricture had indications for urethroplasty with the use of a thin free labia minora skin graft using a dorsal (6 o'clock position) urethroplasty technique. Full informed consent was obtained. From the inner aspect of one labium minora a thin free skin flap was prepared. The strictured urethra and the anterior vaginal wall were transected and the graft sutured into the defect. All scar tissue was removed and the anterior vaginal wall closed in two layers over the area of the urethroplasty. Continence was evaluated by a stress test with a full bladder.


RESULTS
all patients were operated on with no complications during or after surgery. After 1 and 2 years of follow-up seven and six of the eight patients had no recurrence of stricture disease. All patients remained continent.


CONCLUSIONS
the urethroplasty using an inlay of free thin genital skin graft was safe, uncomplicated and effective.
Rehder
Peter
P
Departments of Urology, Medical University Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria. peter.rehder@i-med.ac.at
Glodny
Bernhard
B
Pichler
Renate
R
Exeli
Lukas
L
Kerschbaumer
Andrea
A
Mitterberger
Michael Josef
MJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods*; D016038:Skin Transplantation; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014521:Urethra / Q000601:surgery*; D014525:Urethral Stricture / Q000601:surgery*; D014844:Vulva / Q000637:transplantation*