Purpose: A retrospective analysis was done of long-term results of internal urethrotomy to evaluate risk factors of stricture recurrence.
Materials and methods: Followup studies were performed of 937 patients with urethral strictures treated with internal urethrotomy. Of the patients 357 were treated at Mainz University between 1977 and 1989 (mean followup 4.6 years) and 580 were treated at Bonn University between 1974 and 1986 (mean followup 3.2 years).
Results: Strictures recurred in 96 of 357 (26.9%) and 260 of 580 (44.8%) patients, respectively. Risk factors for recurrence were etiology (post-transurethral resection and inflammation), stricture longer than 1 cm. and postoperative catheter drainage for longer than 3 days.
Conclusions: Urethroplasty should be considered in patients at high risk for stricture recurrence and with more than 1 treatment failure after urethrotomy.