General Information About Urethral Stricture
Disease Details and Frequently Asked Questions
It is the condition where the spongy tissue on the inner wall of the urinary outflow tract is injured and forms a thick scar (fibrosis) during healing, causing the lumen of the tube to become blocked and narrow.
It is usually a consequence of previous medical interventions (iatrogenic). A URINARY CATHETER inserted into the urinary tract during another surgery (heart/bowel) can irritate the canal upon removal and create a stricture years later.
Additionally, endoscopic (camera) access during prostate or kidney stone surgeries, pelvic fractures from traffic accidents, kick/fall traumas to the groin, and sexually transmitted infections such as Gonorrhea are major causes that erode and narrow the canal.
Prostate enlargement begins after the age of 50. Urethral stricture, however, can occur at any age (including in young adults).
Symptoms: Thinning of the urinary stream to 'like a thread or hair', loss of urine pressure causing it to drop at the feet, scattered or split stream (like a fork), spending a very long time in the toilet to finish urinating, and forced straining.
Uroflowmetry (voiding test) detects that the urine flows very slowly. To precisely map the location and length of the stricture (where it is blocked), an RGU (Retrograde Urethrography) is performed. An X-ray is taken while a special radiopaque dye is injected from the tip of the penis, allowing the narrow/blocked hourglass-shaped region in the tube to be visualized with 100% clarity.
NO. Forcibly dilating the canal with a bougie (metal rod) is a very old, painful, and temporary method. It opens the stricture by tearing it, but 3-6 months later, that wound Closes Again More Severely with an even thicker scar tissue (armor). It is not recommended unless absolutely necessary.
1. Closed Surgery (Internal Urethrotomy): Applied if the stricture is short (1-2 cm). The urinary meatus is entered with a camera, and that scar tissue is opened by deeply CUTTING it at the 12 o'clock position with a Cold Knife (or Holmium Laser). It provides short-term relief but has a 40% risk of recurrence.
2. Open Surgery (Urethroplasty) - Definitive Solution: It is the only permanent method if the stricture is very long (greater than 2 cm) or constantly recurs after closed surgery. An incision is made through the perineum. The narrowed tube segment is completely excised (and sutured end-to-end). If the defect is too long, a new urinary tube is constructed in that area by grafting wet tissue (Buccal Mucosa) taken from the inside of the patient's own cheek (mouth). The success rate is 90-95%.
Our health library contents are prepared for informational purposes only and with scientific data available at the time of recording. For all your questions, concerns, diagnosis, or treatment regarding your health, please consult your doctor or a healthcare institution.
