Treatment of Urethral Stricture using Sensated Ulnar Forearm Free Flap

척골측 전완부 감각유리 피판술을 이용한 요도협착의 치료

In the treatment of urethral stricture, many problems still remain with the current methods making it a field of further exploration for reconstructive surgeon. Furthermore, when total or multiple strictures of the penile urethra exist, the methods of surgery become difficult due to a necessity for a long neourethra. Introduction of vascularized free flap has broadened the choice and improved the results of reconstruction for the urethra. The authors used a sensate ulnar forearm free flap in a patient with multiple penile urethral strictures for reconstruction. Uroflowmetry, 30 months after surgery, revealed that maximal flow rate was 15.5 ml/sec, average flow rate was 9.5 ml/sec, and voided volume was 157 ml. A urethrogram was performed 30 months postoperatively and a good result was achieved. The ulnar forearm free flap used by the authors are thin and pliable and is good for providing sufficient length to reconstruct the neourethra for a long urethral defect.