The effect of closure versus nonclosure of lingual mucosa graft harvest site on postoperative morbidity in augmentation urethroplasty: A comparative study

OBJECTIVES: The objective of this study is to compare postoperative morbidity of closure versus nonclosure of the lingual mucosa graft (LMG) harvest site in augmentation urethroplasty. MATERIALS AND METHODS: From January 2015 to November 2016, a total of 42 patients who underwent LMG urethroplasty randomized in 2 groups. In Group 1, donor-harvesting site was left open while in Group 2, donor site was closed. Self-made questionnaires were to assess postoperative pain, difficulty in tongue protrusion, swelling and numbness in graft harvest site, speech impairment, and difficulty in tolerating liquid and regular diet. RESULTS: Mean visual analog scales score was 7.1 in Group 1, and 7.9 in Group 2 on day 0, which was statistically significant. Nearly 90.47% of patients in closure group and 95.23% in nonclosure group were able to swallow liquid diet on day 0 (P = 0.5604). On day 3, 95.71% of patients in Group 1 and 80% in Group 2 were able to swallow soft diet (P = 0.1604). Numbness was present in 80.95% Group 1 and 71.42% in Group 2 on day 0, which improved to 28.57% pts in Group 1 and 33.33% in Group 2 on day 3. On day 3, slurring of speech was more frequent in closure group (80%). However, at the end of a week, there was no difference in both groups. Saliva production was significantly increased in Group 1 in the 1(st) week. CONCLUSION: Long-term morbidities of closing or nonclosing the LMG donor site are similar, but in short term, there is less pain, less edema, early recovery of tongue movements in nonclosure groups.