Reconstructive Urology & Men's Health

Outcomes Data

Table 1: Total number of urethroplasties performed at the University of Utah, Center for Reconstructive Urology & Men's Health. Anterior urethra is the portion of the urethra running from the penis to the sphincter muscle at the bottom of the prostate. Posterior urethra is the urethra running from the sphincter muscle at the bottom of the prostate through the prostate to the bladder. These surgeries are rare and the numbers are comparable or much greater than most large centers in the United States.

Year Anterior Urethroplasty Posterior Urethroplasty Total
2010 49 8 57
2011 53 6 59
2012 40 15 55

Table 2: Many of the urethral surgeries in our patients are complicated for multiple reasons.

Risk factors 2010 2011 2012
Pelvic fracture 3 3 8
Previous open urethral surgery 8 7 2
Previous hypospadias 9 4 5
Radiation damage 2 1 4
Total complex patients 23 (40%) 15 (25%) 19 (35%)


Table 3: The results of urethroplasty at University of Utah. Our successful outcomes are very carefully defined. The categories of success included; patients who had an open urethra on a cystoscopic exam after surgery, and patients that did not have a cystoscopic exam, but were having no problems with their flow. In patients that surgery failed, many did not have symptoms because the stricture was wide enough that it did not cause obstruction of the urine flow. Less than 5% of patients needed repeat urethroplasty because surgery had failed.

2010 2011
Total urethroplasties 57 59
Patients without follow up 2 4
Total number of patients with follow up 55 55
Succesful outcomes
Cytsoscopic exam with open urethra 34 38
No cystoscopy, but no problems since surgery. 14 12
Total successes 46 (84%) 49 (89%)
Failed outcomes
Total failures 9 6
No symptoms (pt’s feel a good stream) 5 2
Symptomatic from recurrent stricture 4 4
Patients needing repeat urethroplasty 3 (5%) 2 (4%)


Table 3: The results of urethroplasty at University of Utah. Our successful outcomes are very carefully defined. We counted surgeries as successful if patients had an open urethra on a cystoscopic exam after surgery or if patients did not return for an exam and were contacted and were having no problems with their flow. In patients that surgery failed, many did not have symptoms because the stricture was wide enough that it did not cause obstruction of the urine flow. Less than 5% of patients needed repeat urethroplasty because surgery had failed.