Etiology of Urethral Stricture: a Tertiary Center’s Experience

Urethral stricture is a complex disease with an etiology that remains insufficiently studied. The frequency of etiological factors associated with urethral stricture has undergone significant changes in recent decades, considering geographical factors, socioeconomic characteristics of the population, and the different etiological factors present in developed and developing countries. We retrospectively collected data from 146 patients who underwent urethroplasty for urethral stricture between 2009 and 2019 at the University Clinical Center of Serbia (Belgrade, Serbia). The patients with urethral stricture were divided into several groups based on their age and the localization of the stricture. Eleven causes of urethral stricture were identified. Urethral catheterization was the leading cause of strictures, regardless of age, accounting for 48.6% of all patients (p<0.001). The most common localization was the penile urethra, accounting for 41.8% of patients (p<0.001), whereas posterior strictures were observed in only 5 patients (3.4%). Considering etiology, iatrogenic (catheterization) and idiopathic urethral stenosis are the predominant factors. Careful urethral manipulation during catheterization is crucial, as it contributes to the prevention of the most common etiological factor of urethral stricture.