Improved continence in patients with neurogenic sphincteric incompetence with combination tubularized posterior urethroplasty and fascial wrap: the lengthening, narrowing and tightening procedure.

Purpose: We evaluated the outcome in 19 patients who underwent bladder neck reconstruction by lengthening, narrowing and tightening the bladder neck with a combined tubularized posterior urethroplasty and circumferential fascial wrap.

Materials And Methods: We reviewed the records of all patients who underwent bladder neck lengthening, narrowing and tightening between April 1996 and November 2002. Preoperative urodynamic and radiographic data were available on all patients. The surgical technique involved retroperitoneal exposure of the bladder neck with a tubularized posterior urethroplasty over a urethral catheter. The reconstructed urethra was then circumferentially wrapped with a fitted piece of cadaveric fascia.

Results: Of the 19 patients 15 remain completely continent at a mean ± SD followup of 35.5 ± 29.1 months. Three patients underwent secondary reconstruction, including bladder neck ligation in all 3 and secondary enterocystoplasty in 2. No patient experienced difficult intermittent catheterization via the urethra postoperatively.

Conclusions: Bladder neck lengthening, narrowing and tightening is effective for managing neurogenic sphincteric incontinence. Outcomes are comparable with those of other reconstructive procedures.