[Buccal mucosal graft for the treatment of urethral stricture]. / Greffe de muqueuse jugale pour le traitement d'une sténose urétrale.

ABSTRACT

INTRODUCTION: The indication of the buccal mucosal graft for urethroplasty has evolved over recent years. The ease of its harvesting, availability, and immunohistological properties, as well as its satisfactory results, has made the buccal mucosal graft the current procedure of choice. We report a case of use of a buccal mucosal graft to treat an urethral stricture correction. CASE REPORT A 48-year-old man underwent a buccal mucosal graft for post-infectious urethral stricture correction. An inner right cheek graft of 50 × 30 mm was harvested and inserted into place after complete excision of the stricture. Postoperative evolution was satisfactory with no pain at the 5th day, resumption of normal diet at the 12th day, a significant improvement of peak flow rate at the 21st day. Follow-up examination at the 7th week revealed a mouth opening to 40 mm with complete healing. DISCUSSION: Buccal mucosal graft has currently the highest success rate compared to other surgical techniques as full thickness skin graft from hair or graft of bladder mucosa. Its harvesting can be single or multiple, however care must be taken as regards Stenon's duct and to the labial commissure. The complications of the donor site are infrequent and can be characterized by numbness and limited mouth opening. Tissues that contain immunohistological properties, which are similar to those of the urothelium, buccal mucosal graft, have become the gold standard for this type of correction.