[Treatment of urethral strictures by endoscopic internal urethrotomy: anatomical and functional results in a series of 244 cases]

To evaluate the results of a homogeneous series of urethral strictures treated exclusively by endoscopic internal urethrotomy and to determine the factors that may predict the outcome. Between 1989 and 2007, 244 patients were treated for urethral stricture. All of them were subjected to endoscopic direct vision internal urethrotomy [DVIU]. 34.3% of good results were achieved after the first DVIU. Mean follow-up was 3.5 years. No mortality was encountered, while the rate of morbidity was.5%. Better results were achieved in patients with short [<2 cm] and single strictures in the proximal urethra. Mean post-operative catheterization was 2 days; a further extension of the catheterization time did not yield any significant improvement. Unsatisfactory results [65.5%] were found in patients with large urethral strictures located in the distal urethra or in elderly patients. 62.5% of the patients showed a satisfactory outcome after a second urethrotomy, while the other patients required urethral dilatation or urethroplasty. DVIU is a simple procedure which does not have a high rate of morbidity and requires short hospitalization. With a steady success rate of around 75.4% after a follow-up of 3.5 years we feel that DVIU can be recommended as treatment of choice for all short, single and proximal urethral strictures, preferably in young patients without previous interventions on the urethra

[Fracture of the corpus cavernosum: report on 123 cases]

Objective: To analyze the diagnostic and therapeutic aspects of fracture of the corpus cavernosum and compare our results with those in the literature

Patients and Methods: Between January 1976 and June 2002, 123 cases of fracture of the corpus cavernosum were treated at our department. The mean age of the patients was 25 years. In the majority of cases [71.5%], fracture of the penis occurred by forced manipulation of the erected penis. The diagnosis was based on clinical examination. The patients were treated surgically by repair of the tunica albuginea, mostly [74 cases] after degloving of the penile skin. One case of ureteral rupture was encountered after fracture of both corpora cavernosa

Results: In 95 patients, the postoperative outcome was satisfactory. However, 8 cases of fibrous plaques and 4 cases of penile curvature were encountered. None of our patients experienced postoperative erectile dysfunction

Conclusion: Fracture of the corpus cavernosum is a pathology which remains quite rare. The diagnosis is based on clinical examination and treatment is surgical in the majority of cases. The outcome of the treatment of such fractures is usually satisfactory provided the patients present at an early stage