Tunica albuginea versus buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty for anterior urethral stricture: A prospective randomised pilot study

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to compare the outcome of tunica albuginea urethroplasty (TAU) and buccal mucosa graft (BMG) urethroplasty for anterior urethral stricture. METHODS: Thirty patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomised into two groups: TAU (Group A) and BMG urethroplasty (Group B). Surgical outcome was evaluated with pre- and post-operative work-up involving retrograde urethrogram, voiding cystourethrogram, uroflowmetry, and urethroscopy. Patients were followed up till 1 year. RESULTS: Mean duration of surgery was statistically significant between two groups (p=0.0005). Maximum urine flow rate was comparable when compared between two groups (p=0.22) but statistically significant when compared pre- and post-operatively (p<0.001). At follow-up of 1 year, the successful outcomes were 80% in Group A and 87% in Group B. A total of five patients who had unsuccessful results required redo urethroplasty. Complications were minimal in both the groups. CONCLUSION: TAU provides outcomes equivalent to those of BMG urethroplasty. TAU has less operative time, easy to perform, and beneficial in patients with poor oral hygiene.