USA Health offers ‘gold standard’ treatment for urethral stricture

By Carol McPhail
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If you’re experiencing a chronically weak urine stream, there’s a chance you may have urethral stricture, a narrowing or blockage of the tube through which urine leaves your body. The narrowing of the urethra – more common in men than women – can cause you to push or strain to empty your bladder.

While a urologist may be able to dilate the urethra using a noninvasive procedure, it may not be a long-term fix. A more permanent solution – urethroplasty, a surgery to repair or rebuild the urethra – is available at USA Health, the only health system on the upper Gulf Coast to offer the procedure.

“Urethroplasty is considered the gold standard for treating urethral strictures, with success rates often more than 85% to 90% in preventing recurrence,” said Jatinder Kumar, M.D., a fellowship-trained urologist at USA Health University Urology. “It’s a durable fix that can significantly improve quality of life by restoring normal urination and reducing infections or discomfort.”

Urethral stricture is caused by scar tissue and can result from injury, infection, inflammation, prior surgeries or conditions such as lichen sclerosus, a chronic inflammatory skin condition.

Urethroplasty is not a new surgical procedure, but it typically is performed by a urologist with advanced training in reconstructive urology. The urologist takes skin from the mouth to reconstruct the urethra, which typically takes two to three hours under general anesthesia.

Kumar, who also serves as an assistant professor of urology at the Frederick P. Whiddon College of Medicine at the University of South Alabama, specializes in reconstructive procedures involving the urinary tract and certain reproductive organs. He completed a fellowship in advanced urology and reconstructive urology at the University of Florida in Jacksonville before joining USA Health in 2023.

Urethroplasty can be performed as an outpatient procedure but more commonly requires a one- to two-night hospital stay for monitoring, especially if a drain or catheter is placed, Kumar said. Recovery involves some discomfort from the catheter, but most patients return to work in one to two weeks and can resume full activities in four to six weeks.

“Risks such as infection or erectile issues are low with experienced surgeons, and long-term follow-up helps ensure success,” he said. “Don’t hesitate to seek a second opinion if you have had repeated failed treatments. It’s worth traveling to a specialist for the best outcome.”