Etiology of panurethral strictures in a low socioeconomic status population.

Introduction: Panurethral strictures represent the most severe form within the anterior urethral stricture spectrum, requiring more technically complex repairs and resulting in poorer outcomes compared to localized anterior urethral strictures (penile or bulbar). This abstract aims to describe the distinct characteristics of patients with panurethral strictures in a low socioeconomic status population.

Methods: Patients presenting with localized anterior (penile or bulbar) or panurethral strictures at University Hospital in Newark, NJ, between 2021 and 2023 were retrospectively identified. Data were extracted from electronic medical records and analyzed statistically using IBM SPSS Software.

Results: Among the patients, 33 had localized anterior urethral strictures, and 22 had panurethral stricture disease. Hispanic and African American patients accounted for the majority of stricture cases (63.6%), including 59% of the panurethral stricture cohort. The only statistically significant factor contributing to panurethral disease was lichen sclerosis (p < 0.05). Patients with panurethral strictures had a higher incidence of inflammatory and systemic diseases such as STDs, recurrent UTIs, diabetes, and hypertension, while those with localized anterior urethral strictures showed a higher incidence of iatrogenic factors, including prior catheterizations and transurethral surgeries. However, these factors did not reach a statistical significance. Hypospadias repair was observed in 6% of localized anterior urethral stricture cases, compared to 13.6% of panurethral stricture cases.

Conclusion: While iatrogenic causes remain the predominant contributors, inflammatory and systemic conditions, particularly lichen sclerosis, significantly influence the development of panurethral strictures. Early surgical intervention and better management of systemic diseases may prevent the progression of localized anterior urethral strictures to panurethral disease, but further studies utilizing larger number of patients may shed light on the significance of these systemic factors.