Childhood urethral injuries: perspectives on outcome and treatment.

To elucidate the history of childhood urethral injuries, we undertook a retrospective review of 19 male patients comprising 2 groups: those requiring surgical intervention in adulthood and those with complete disruption of the posterior urethra requiring acute intervention (cystostomy drainage). Group 1 patients (n = 12) ranged in age from 17 to 63 years, had sustained urethral injury between the ages of 3 to 15 years and underwent initial surgery from 9 to 18 years after injury. In all 12 patients the strictures developed in the bulbar urethra. All now report continence and normal voiding and none is impotent. Group 2 patients (n = 7) ranged in age from 4 to 16 years and underwent delayed primary reconstruction of the urethral rupture defect. Six patients are now continent with a good stream but the seventh has required repeat optical urethrotomy. One patient with erectile capability at the time of injury was rendered impotent and remains so.