title: Use of Martius flap in the complex female urethral surgery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Objectives were to evaluate safety and patient reported perception of the Martius fibroadipose flap for complex female urethra reconstruction.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients operated with a Martius flap were contacted again via telephone to rate their self-perception on cosmetic appearance, pain or numbness of the flap harvest site.
  
  
  RESULTS
  37 women (mean age of 46.8 yrs.) were operated with Martius flaps. Complications were limited to bleeding from the flap bed in 19% (7/37); hematomas - 5.4% (2/37); and lymphorrhea from the labial incision in 13.5% (5/37) and labial wound infection in 5.4% of cases (2/37). For self-perception 65% of patients (24/37) were phone interviewed (mean follow up - 54.2 months). Only 17% of women (4/24) complained to cosmetic problems. Two patients (8%) complained to a periodical mild pain. And 12.5% (3/24) of the women had decreased sensation or numbness at the labia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Martius flap is safe and it is not causing significant complications during female urethral reconstruction. However, an informed consent for decreased sensation and numbness at the flap harvesting area should be obtained.
authors.affiliation: Urology Department of Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kasyan
authors.affiliation: Urology Department of Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Nataliya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tupikina
authors.affiliation: Urology Department of Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry, Moscow, Russia.
authors.forename: Dmitry
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pushkar
keywords: female urethra; radiation; self–perception; surgical flaps; urinary fistula