Tissue-Engineered Buccal Mucosa Urethroplasty—Clinical Outcomes

Introduction

Whilst buccal mucosa is the most versatile tissue for urethral replacement, the quest continues for an ideal tissue replacement for the urethra when substantial tissue transfer is needed. Previously we described the development of autologous tissue-engineered buccal mucosa (TEBM). Here we report clinical outcomes of the first human series of its use in substitution urethroplasty.

Methodology

Five patients with urethral stricture secondary to lichen sclerosus (LS) awaiting substantial substitution urethroplasty elected to undergo urethroplasty using TEBM, with full ethics committee support. Buccal mucosa biopsies (0.5 cm) were obtained from each patient. Keratinocytes and fibroblasts were isolated and cultured, seeded onto sterilised donor de-epidermised dermis, and maintained at air–liquid interface for 7–10 d to obtain full-thickness grafts. These grafts were used for urethroplasty in a one-stage (n = 2) or a two-stage procedure (n = 3). Follow-up was performed at 2 and 6 wk, at 3, 6, 9, and 12 mo, and every 6 mo thereafter.

Results

Follow-up ranged from 32 to 37 mo (mean, 33.6). The initial graft take was 100%, as assessed by visual inspection. Subsequently, one patient had complete excision of the grafted urethra and one required partial graft excision, for fibrosis and hyperproliferation of tissue, respectively. Three patients have a patent urethra with the TEBM graft in situ, although all three required some form of instrumentation.

Conclusions

Whilst TEBM may in the future offer a clinically useful autologous urethral replacement tissue, in this group of patients with LS urethral strictures, it was not without complications, namely fibrosis and contraction in two of five patients.     

游离黏膜组织重建尿道治疗复杂性尿道狭窄的临床研究

目的 探讨利用游离黏膜一期尿道成形治疗复杂性尿道狭窄或闭锁的疗效。方法 2000年8月至2004年7月采用2种游离黏膜一期尿道成形术治疗73例复杂性尿道狭窄。术前42例已行耻骨上膀胱造瘘，余31例最大尿流率1．2～6．5ml／s。用游离结肠黏膜(n=22)重建尿道长10～18cm，平均13cm；用口腔黏膜(n=51)重建尿道长3～11cm，平均5cm。术后随访分别行逆行尿道造影及尿流率，部分患者行尿道镜检查。结果随访2～48个月，平均19个月。术后排尿通畅67例(91．8％)。发生再次狭窄4例，其中结肠黏膜重建者1例，口腔黏膜重建者3例；排尿欠畅2例，定期行尿道扩张；尿道皮肤瘘2例；结肠腹壁瘘1例。1例结肠黏膜重建尿道者术后47个月移植物活检示结肠黏膜的组织形态学基本无变化。结论口腔与结肠黏膜均可作为较理想的尿道替代物，口腔黏膜较适合狭窄段不长的尿道修复，结肠黏膜较适合复杂性超长段尿道狭窄或缺损的治疗。     

One-stage circumferential buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty for bulbous stricture repair

A one-stage onlay urethroplasty, using a buccal mucosa graft, is presented for patients with bulbous strictures in whom the urethral mucosa is seriously involved in the disease. Of 40 patients who underwent a dorsal buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty for bulbous urethral strictures, 5 required complete removal of the urethral mucosa and its replacement by a buccal mucosa graft. All these patients had undergone previous urethrotomy with a false passage inside the bulbous urethra and had a suprapubic tube in place. The goal of removal and replacement of the urethral mucosa in each case was to create a new, wide urethral mucosal bed to promote successful one-stage reconstruction. All patients voided spontaneously without problems after removal of the catheter. After 4 months, the mean peak flow was 21 mL/s. After 6 months, urethroscopy did not show any stricture recurrence. None of the patients required instrumentation or dilation. In patients with bulbous urethral strictures and false passage into the mucosa and spongiosum tissues, the complete removal and replacement of the urethral mucosa using a circumferential buccal mucosa graft promotes successful one-stage urethral reconstruction.     

口腔内黏膜尿道成形治疗前尿道狭窄10年经验总结

目的 探讨口腔内黏膜尿道成形治疗尿道狭窄的长期效果. 方法 2001年1月至2010年12月,应用口腔内黏膜(颊黏膜和舌黏膜)尿道成形治疗前尿道狭窄255例.尿道狭窄段长度3 ～18 cm,平均6 cm.尿道成形采用保留原尿道板的扩大尿道成形术或埋藏黏膜条背侧替代尿道成形术.对49例尿道狭窄段≥8 cm者采取双侧颊黏膜拼接、颊粘膜与舌黏膜拼接或双侧连续长条舌黏膜尿道成形. 结果 术后随访8 ～120个月,平均37个月.230例患者排尿通畅,尿线粗,最大尿流率为16～51 ml/s,平均26 ml/s.尿道造影显示重建段尿道管腔通畅.总成功率90.2％.25例患者于术后1年内发生并发症,其中尿道再次狭窄17例,尿道皮肤瘘8例.17例尿道再狭窄患者中15例再次行口腔内黏膜尿道成形,2例吻合口狭窄行尿道内切开,术后排尿通畅;8例尿道皮肤瘘均接受尿瘘修补术后治愈. 结论 口腔颊黏膜和舌黏膜均是良好的尿道替代物,舌黏膜取材较颊黏膜更为便利;口腔内多种黏膜的组合移植重建尿道是治疗长段前尿道狭窄( ≥8 cm)的有效方法.     

口腔颊粘膜Ⅰ期修复复杂性前尿道狭窄(附六例报告)

目的：探索修复前尿道狭窄的新型替代材料和手术方法。方法：将狭窄或闭锁的前尿道于腹侧纵形劈开，采用口腔颊粘膜补片法治疗复杂性前尿道狭窄患者6例7次。结果：患者前尿道修复术后排尿通畅，平均最大尿流率25．8ml／s，尿道造影示尿道通畅，B超提示吻合口愈合良好，瘢痕少，无明显狭窄。结论：口腔颊粘膜取材方便，创伤小，粘膜易存活，抗感染能力强，修复尿道效果好。     

Long-term followup of the ventrally placed buccal mucosa onlay graft in bulbar urethral reconstruction

PURPOSE: We investigate whether the short-term success rate (greater than 90%) of buccal mucosa free grafts in the bulbar urethra is sustained in the long term. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 60 patients a ventrally placed buccal mucosa graft was used for repair of bulbar urethral strictures. Of these patients 49 had undergone previous attempt at repair (urethroplasty in 4, internal urethrotomy in 45). Mean graft length was 4.8 cm. In 9 patients a distal penile fasciocutaneous flap was also used for repair of concomitant penile urethral stricture. In 8 of the 9 patients the buccal mucosa graft was combined with end-to-end urethroplasty and 2 buccal mucosa grafts were used in tandem in 1. Followup was at least 1 year in all cases (mean 47 months, range 12 to 107). Failure was defined as an obstructive voiding pattern with radiographic or cystoscopic evidence of recurrent stricture. RESULTS: Bulbar stricture repair was successful in 54 patients (90%) and 4 of the remaining 6 responded to 1 internal urethrotomy for a long-term success rate of 97%. Preoperative clinical characteristics were not significantly different between those who experienced success or failure. CONCLUSIONS: Long-term outcome analysis of ventrally placed buccal mucosa onlay grafts for bulbar urethral strictures demonstrates a durable success rate of 90%. This rate can be improved (97%) with the judicious use of internal urethrotomy.     

犬舌黏膜与颊黏膜组合移植重建尿道的实验研究

目的 探讨犬舌黏膜与颊黏膜组合移植替代尿道的可行性和有效性. 方法杂种雌犬7只,平均体质量13 kg,剥离尿道黏膜4 cm×1 cm,取2 cm×1 cm舌侧面黏膜和颊黏膜各1条,拼接后移植至尿道内,恢复尿道黏膜的连续性.术后留置硅胶导尿管1周,拔除尿管后观察排尿情况.1.5～12.0个月后行逆行尿道造影检测实验犬尿道通畅情况,并用10 F尿管证实有无狭窄.随后处死实验犬,测定移植物长度并行病理组织学检查,观察舌黏膜与颊黏膜组合移植至尿道后组织学改变情况. 结果7只实验犬均存活,排尿通畅6只,发生尿道狭窄1只;无尿瘘.移植手术前后舌黏膜和颊黏膜拼接长度分别为(4.00±0.15)和(3.75±0.23)cm,差异有统计学意义(P＜0.05).排尿通畅犬移植黏膜存活良好;舌黏膜与颊黏膜交界处愈合良好,无狭窄发生;光镜下见鳞状上皮呈连续分布,拼接移植黏膜的鳞状上皮与尿道的移行上皮区分明显,移植黏膜的鳞状上:皮有渐被尿道移行上皮替代的趋势.结论 犬舌黏膜和颊黏膜组合移植可替代尿道黏膜并恢复尿道的连续性.     

Tissue-engineered buccal mucosa using silk fibroin matrices for urethral reconstruction in a canine model

Background

To investigate the feasibility of urethral reconstruction using tissue-engineered buccal mucosa (TEBM) with silk fibroin (SF) matrices in a canine model.

Materials and methods

Autologous oral keratinocytes and autologous fibroblasts were isolated, expanded, and seeded onto SF matrices to obtain TEBM. The TEBM was assessed using hematoxylin and eosin staining and scanning electron microscopy. A 5-cm urethral mucosal defect was created in 10 female canines. Urethroplasty was performed using TEBM in five canines in the experimental group and with SF matrices without cells in the five canines in the comparison group. Retrograde urethrography was performed after 6 mo of grafting. The urethral grafts were analyzed grossly and histologically.

Results

The oral keratinocytes and fibroblasts exhibited good biocompatibility with the SF matrices. TEBM could be constructed using SF matrices. The canines implanted with the tissue-engineered mucosa voided without difficulty. The retrograde urethrography revealed no sign of stricture. The histologic staining showed that epithelial cells developed gradually and exhibited stratified epithelial layers at 6 mo. In the comparison group, the canines had difficulty voiding, and the retrograde urethrography showed urethra stricture. The histologic staining showed that one to two layers of epithelial cells developed.

Conclusions

The TEBM using SF matrices could be a potential material for urethra reconstruction.     

口腔粘膜游离移植再造尿道

目的：探讨采用口腔粘膜游离移植，对局部缺乏组织的尿道下裂行尿道再造的方法。方法：1998－2001年对25例患者应用口腔粘膜游离移植再造阴茎段尿道，半年后吻合瘘口。结果：1例一期术后并发感染，愈后无尿道狭窄，所有病例二期吻合瘘口后，再造尿道通畅。结论：口腔粘膜丰富的网状毛细血管网、韧厚的上皮层和相对较薄的皮下板层结构是移植成功的关键。以口腔粘膜游离移植行尿道再造是一种可行的方法。     

游离黏膜尿道成形治疗硬化性苔藓样病所致尿道狭窄的疗效观察

目的 提高对硬化性苔藓样病( lichen sclerosus,LS)导致尿道狭窄的认识,观察游离黏膜尿道成形治疗LS所致尿道狭窄的疗效. 方法 2007年1月-2010年12月收治LS所致前尿道狭窄患者36例,年龄27～75岁,平均41岁.尿道狭窄段长5.0 ～20.0 cm,平均11.5 cm.根据尿道狭窄段长短和严重程度选择不同的黏膜组织,其中行口腔内黏膜(舌、颊黏膜)尿道成形27例,结肠黏膜尿道成形8例,另1例老年患者行前尿道劈开.在行尿道重建术前对病变累及的阴茎头、尿道口、尿道行病理学检查. 结果 36例患者术后3周拔除导尿管,排尿通畅;活检结果提示上皮基底部特征性病变,过度角化,上皮层变薄,淋巴细胞浸润等.术后随访6 ～ 50个月,平均22个月.出现尿道外口狭窄3例(8.3％),其中口腔内黏膜尿道成形者2例,结肠黏膜重建尿道者1例,行尿道外口切开后排尿通畅.余患者术后排尿通畅,最大尿流率17.2～47.0 ml/s,平均23.4 ml/s. 结论 采用游离黏膜尿道成形治疗LS所致尿道狭窄疗效较好,但需密切随访,因病变迁延可致尿道再狭窄,尤其是尿道口再狭窄.     

Buccal mucosa urethroplasty for the treatment of bulbar urethral strictures

PURPOSE: We report the results of urethroplasty with a free graft of buccal mucosa as a dorsal onlay for the treatment of bulbar urethral strictures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Since June 1994, 30 patients with bulbar urethral strictures have been treated with buccal mucosa urethroplasty. Urethroplasty was performed with a free graft of buccal mucosa using a ventral onlay in the first 7 patients and a dorsal onlay in 23. Dorsal urethrotomy was performed with a Sachse urethrotome after the bulbar urethra was separated from the corpora. The buccal mucosa onlay was sutured to the urethra and corpora cavernosa to ensure a patent urethra. RESULTS: At 20-month followup (range 3 to 50) the success rate was 96% (29 of 30 patients). Urethral stricture recurred in only 1 of 7 patients in the ventral onlay and none of 23 in the dorsal onlay group. CONCLUSIONS: Preliminary results of urethroplasty for bulbar urethral strictures with a dorsal onlay graft of buccal mucosa are excellent. Longer followup is needed to evaluate definitive results.     

Bulbar urethroplasty using buccal mucosa grafts placed on the ventral, dorsal or lateral surface of the urethra: are results affected by the surgical technique?

PURPOSE: The use of buccal mucosa graft onlay urethroplasty represents the most widespread method of bulbar urethral stricture repair. The graft may be placed on the ventral or dorsal urethral surface according to surgeon experience and preference. We investigated whether the results are affected by the surgical technique by comparing the outcome of 3 types of bulbar urethroplasty using buccal mucosa graft. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We repaired 50 bulbar urethral strictures with buccal mucosa grafts from 1997 to 2002. Mean patient age was 42 years. The etiology of stricture was ischemia in 12 cases, trauma in 6, instrumentation in 4 and unknown in 28. Patients with lichen sclerosus, failed hypospadias or urethroplasty and stricture extending into the penile urethra were not included. A total of 47 patients (94%) had undergone previous urethrotomy or dilation. The buccal mucosa graft was always harvested from the cheek using a 2 team approach. Mean graft length was 4.2 cm. The graft was placed on the ventral, dorsal and lateral bulbar urethral surface in 17, 27 and 6 cases, respectively. Clinical outcome was considered a success or failure at the time that any postoperative procedure was needed, including dilation. Mean followup was 42 months (range 12 to 76). RESULTS: Of 50 cases 42 (84%) were successful and 8 (16%) failed. The 17 ventral grafts provided success in 14 cases (83%) and failure in 3 (17%). The 27 dorsal grafts provided success in 23 cases (85%) and failure in 4 (15%). The 6 lateral grafts provided success in 5 cases (83%) and failure in 1 (17%). No surgical complications were observed. Failures involved the anastomotic site (distal in 2 and proximal in 3) and the whole grafted area in 3 cases. They were treated with urethrotomy in 5 cases and 2-stage urethroplasty in 3. CONCLUSIONS: In our experience the placement of buccal mucosa grafts into the ventral, dorsal or lateral surface of the bulbar urethra showed the same success rates (83% to 85%) and the outcome was not affected by the surgical technique. Moreover, stricture recurrence was uniformly distributed in all patients.     

8 cm以上复杂性尿道狭窄的外科治疗

目的探讨长段尿道狭窄手术方法的选择与疗效。方法对76例尿道狭窄8cm以上的患者采用不同尿道成形术式治疗,其中不同黏膜重建尿道42例（结肠黏膜26例,膀胱黏膜6例,口腔黏膜10例）;带蒂皮瓣一期尿道成形20例;尿道狭窄段切开、二期尿道成形（Johanson术）12例;阴茎段尿道与前列腺部尿道吻合、三期尿道成形术2例。结果术后初期（6个月内）排尿通畅67例（88％）,有并发症者10例。术后1年以上70例,其中获得随访51例,排尿通畅44例,有并发症者8例,其中采用带蒂皮瓣者发生尿道狭窄2例（18％,2／11）;Johanson术者发生阴茎弯曲2例（2／5）,其中1例成形段尿道内毛发生成和结石形成;采用口腔黏膜者发生尿道狭窄1例（1／7）,膀胱黏膜者发生尿道狭窄1例（1／3）,结肠黏膜者发生后尿道狭窄2例（9％,2／23）。结论口腔与结肠黏膜尿道成形对长段尿道狭窄是较理想的术式;结肠黏膜较适合在常规手术治疗失败后或复杂性尿道狭窄10cm以上的治疗。     

Bulbar urethral stricture repair with buccal mucosa graft urethroplasty

OBJECTIVES: Evaluation of the use of buccal mucosa graft as single-stage urethral reconstruction in an adult population with a stenosis of the bulbar urethra. METHODS: In our Department between April 1996 and February 1999, 20 patients with bulbar urethra stenosis underwent single-stage urethroplasty using a buccal mucosa graft. Mean age of patients was 52 years (range 14-70). The etiology of urethral stricture was inflammation (4 cases), iatrogenic (5 cases) and idiopathic (11 cases). A ventral onlay patch (mean length 3.6 cm, range 2.5-5) was employed in all cases. RESULTS: During the follow-up (median 13 months, range 6-28) the overall success rate was 80%. The success rate was 75% for inflammatory strictures, 80% for iatrogenic strictures and 81% for strictures of unknown etiology. CONCLUSIONS: Although longer follow-up is needed, free graft urethroplasty with buccal mucosa graft represents a simple surgical option which has produced encouraging results. This is probably due to the quality of the tissue employed which at present seems to represent the first-choice solution in selected cases.     

Treatment of urethral defects: skin, buccal or bladder mucosa, tube or patch? An experimental study in dogs

PURPOSE: We studied 3 graft materials and 2 urethroplasty techniques in 24 adult male mongrel dogs. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The animals were divided into 2 equal groups. In group 1 a 4 cm. segment of perineal urethra was excised and tubed urethroplasty was performed using free full-thickness skin, buccal and bladder mucosa grafts in 4 dogs each. In group 2 a 4 cm. urethral strip was excised and onlay urethroplasty was performed using the same graft materials in 4 dogs each. Retrograde urethrography was done and the animals were sacrificed at week 12. Autopsy specimens were calibrated with a 10Fr catheter. Hematoxylin and eosin stained sections were examined. Masson's trichrome stain was used to determine the extent of fibrosis. RESULTS: Urethral stricture was diagnosed by radiology and confirmed by calibration in 8 of the 12 dogs (66%) in group 1 but in only 1 of the 12 (8%) in group 2 (p <0.004). Buccal mucosa grafts were associated with the lowest stricture rate of 12%, followed by 37% for bladder mucosa and 62% for skin (p <0.2). There was no difference in neovascularization among the 3 grafts. Graft shrinkage was less than 10% for buccal mucosa compared with 20% to 40% for skin and bladder mucosa. The shrinkage rate was similar for the onlay and tube techniques. The intensity of chronic inflammation and fibrosis was highest in the skin grafts. Circumferential fibrosis was noted in association with tubed urethroplasty but not with the onlay technique. CONCLUSIONS: The theoretical advantages of buccal mucosal grafts were pathologically demonstrated. When possible, grafts should be used as an onlay rather than as a complete tube.     

Changing practice in anterior urethroplasty

OBJECTIVE: To describe our experience of penile urethral repair and reconstruction, cataloguing the change in practice from one-stage flap to two-stage free graft procedures for anterior urethroplasty. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between January 1992 and December 1996, 79 patients underwent anterior urethroplasty. Of the 45 one-stage bulbar patch urethroplasties, 37 (76%) used buccal mucosal free grafts rather than flaps. Of the 34 penile urethroplasties, 26 (82%) (including all of the circumferential reconstructions) were two-stage procedures. RESULTS: Buccal mucosal free grafts were at least as good as local skin flaps for patch urethroplasty and two-stage repairs gave much better results than one-stage repairs for total circumferential reconstruction of the penile urethra. CONCLUSIONS: For a patch urethroplasty of an uncomplicated stricture in the bulbar urethra, buccal mucosal free grafts are now the material of choice. For a patch urethroplasty of an uncomplicated stricture in the penile urethra the Orandi procedure remains the 'gold standard'. For a circumferential repair of the urethra, particularly the penile urethra, a two-stage repair using a free graft gives better results than a one-stage repair using a flap.     

DORSAL ONLAY GRAFT URETHROPLASTY USING PENILE SKIN OR BUCCAL MUCOSA IN ADULT BULBOURETHRAL STRICTURES

Purpose

Preputial skin graft is used routinely for urethral reconstruction in patients with stricture disease. Alternative donor sites include extrapenile skin, bladder mucosa and buccal mucosa. Recently buccal mucosa graft has been suggested when local epithelial tissue is not available. We describe our experience with 37 patients undergoing 1-stage correction of bulbar urethral stricture using a penile skin (31) or buccal mucosa (6) graft.

Materials and Methods

In 37 patients with bulbar urethral strictures a nontubularized dorsal onlay graft was used for urethral reconstruction. A preputial skin graft was used in 31 patients and a buccal mucosa graft in 6 with a paucity of local skin. Buccal mucosa graft length ranged from 2.5 to 5 cm. (average 4) and preputial skin graft was 2.5 to 12 cm. long (average 4.7). A dorsal approach to the urethral lumen was used in all patients who underwent onlay graft urethroplasty.

Results

Mean followup was 21.5 months for all 37 patients, 23 months for 31 treated with preputial skin graft and 13.5 months for 6 treated with buccal mucosa graft. The clinical outcomes were considered a failure anytime postoperative instrumentation was needed, including dilatation. In the series 34 cases (92%) were classified as a success and 3 (8%) as failure.

Conclusions

Onlay graft urethroplasty provided excellent results in 92% of adults with bulbourethral stricture. The dorsal approach to the urethra allowed the use of foreskin or buccal mucosa graft for reconstruction of the adequate urethral lumen.     

复杂性尿道下裂修复失败后的治疗

目的 探讨不同游离黏膜、带蒂皮瓣或二种组织拼接尿道成形术治疗复杂性尿道下裂修复失败后病例的效果.方法 采用3种游离黏膜或带蒂阴茎皮瓣尿道成形治疗尿道下裂修复失败后患者36例,其中带蒂阴茎皮瓣尿道成形7例,舌黏膜与阴茎皮瓣拼接重建尿道3例.结肠黏膜重建尿道2例,1条舌黏膜重建尿道9例,1条颊黏膜重建尿道7例,采用2条口腔内黏膜拼接重建尿道8例.阴茎用弹力绷带包扎4 d,每天用抗生素液冲洗尿道1次.结果 36例术后随访3～84个月,平均32.6个月.术后2～3周发牛尿瘘4例.术后2～3个月新尿道发生狭窄3例,其中吻合口狭窄1例.经尿道扩张5次后排尿通畅;尿道外口狭窄2例,经手术矫正后均排尿通畅,Q_(max)分别为37.3和28.7 ml/s.余者排尿通畅,尿线粗,Q_(max) 18.0～46.0 ml/s,平均26.8 ml/s.结论 舌黏膜与颊黏膜具有取材方便、创伤小的特点,较适合于尿道下裂修复失败后皮源少患者的尿道重建.     

Dorsal graft urethroplasty for female urethral stricture

PURPOSE: Urethral strictures in females are uncommon, and treatment options and outcome are not well-defined with scanty reports. We describe a new method of urethroplasty for the repair of female urethral stricture. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three 60-year-old females, each with a history of recurrent urinary tract infections and obstructive voiding symptoms due to urethral stricture, underwent urethroplasty with a dorsal vaginal or buccal mucosal graft. The dorsal aspect of the distal urethra was dissected from the surrounding tissue through a suprameatal incision and the urethral wall was incised through the stricture at the 12 o'clock position. A 1.5 cm wide free graft was harvested from the vaginal wall or buccal mucosa in 1 case, and the mucosal surface was placed upon the urethral lumen and sutured with a running 5-zero polyglactin suture to the open urethra. Indwelling 18Fr urethral and 16Fr suprapubic catheters were left in place for 2 and 3 weeks, respectively. RESULTS: No additional treatment was required during the 1, 8 and 27 months of followup. All patients had normal micturition following catheter removal. CONCLUSIONS: Dorsal graft urethroplasty is feasible and effective for the correction of persistent female urethral stricture.     

CONSTRUCTION OF FEMALE URETHRA USING BUCCAL MUCOSA GRAFT

PURPOSE: We reviewed our experience with buccal mucosa grafts for reconstructing difficult female urethral problems. METHODS AND METHODS: Since 1994, we have used a buccal mucosa graft to reconstruct the urethra in 7 girls 3 to 13 years old. The underlying pathological condition was a fibrotic urethra after previous operations for cloacal exstrophy, cloacal malformation, iatrogenic urethral stricture, and multiple false passages in a previously reconstructed urethra of vaginal mucosa that made clean intermittent catheterization difficult. A full-thickness buccal mucosa graft was tubularized in situ as the neourethra to the base of the clitoris. In patients with cloacal exstrophy and cloacal malformation the bladder neck and urethra were widely exposed transabdominally by splitting the pubic symphysis. The fibrotic mucosa was excised and the tubularized buccal mucosa graft was wrapped with periurethral tissues. Other patients underwent transvaginal surgery in the prone position and the graft was covered with a buttock flap. RESULTS: Patients were followed for 12 to 58 months (mean 34.7). Those with cloacal exstrophy and cloacal malformation had been completely incontinent before urethral reconstruction but all attained complete continence postoperatively. They and the girl who underwent urethral reconstruction for difficult catheterization performed clean intermittent catheterization easily. The patient with urethral stricture voided via the urethra without difficulty. CONCLUSIONS: In select female patients with difficult urethral reconstructive problems a tubularized free graft obtained from the buccal mucosa may be effectively used when local tissue is fibrotic and unsuitable for creating a supple new urethra.