Rupture of the male membranous urethra.

Background: Management of traumatic rupture of the male membranous urethra remains controversial. Long-term morbidity can include urinary incontinence, urethral stricture and erectile dysfunction.

Objective: To review management and outcome of urethral rupture to improve treatment protocols.

Methods: A retrospective study of 47 patients presenting with traumatic urethral rupture over 25 years was performed.

Results: All patients underwent emergency suprapubic catheterisation, 32 patients had open surgical realignment at 1-2 weeks; 78% of whom developed strictures. Ten patients unsuitable for early repair underwent delayed transabdominal transpubic urethroplasty at three months: 40% of whom developed strictures. Five patients with partial rupture were managed by cystoscopy and urethral catheter. Erectile dysfunction correlated to initial injury rather than treatment.

Conclusions: If the patient is stable and requires emergency laparotomy for other abdominal injuries, he should have immediate realignment of the urethra. Early realignment of the urethra at laparotomy at 1-2 weeks can be combined with orthopaedic fixation of pelvic fractures. Patients who remain unstable due to associated injuries should have delayed urethroplasty at three months.