Single-Stage Dorsal Inlay Split-Skin Graft for Salvage Anterior Urethral Reconstruction

The study reported the initial experience and extended follow-up of single-stage dorsal inlay skin-graft urethroplasty for salvaging recurrent anterior urethral stricture (AUS) in 27 patients with a mean age of 48.12 years. The procedure used extragenital split-thickness skin grafts due to contraindications for buccal mucosal grafting. The mean stricture length was 8.35 cm, and the overall complication rate was 7%, with no complications during surgery. During a mean follow-up of 32.43 months, 93% of patients were successfully cured in one operation, with only two patients requiring further treatment. No long-term complications were noted at the graft donor sites, and there was no intraurethral hair growth. The study concluded that split-thickness skin grafts are a viable alternative for dorsal inlay urethroplasty in recurrent AUS when buccal mucosal grafting is contraindicated, though longer follow-up is needed to assess the ultimate value of this technique.