What Is Urethral Stricture?
The urethra is a tube that carries urine from the bladder out of the body. A urethral stricture is a narrowing of the urethra that obstructs the flow of urine. This causes variable amounts of urine to remain in the bladder.
A stricture can occur anywhere along the urethra. The scar-like tissue that causes the stricture can vary in length from a few millimeters to several centimeters. If the scar is blocking the normal outflow of urine, reconstruction of the urethra in adults becomes necessary.
The field of reconstructive urology has emerged over the past two decades. Many innovative treatment strategies and surgical techniques to correct urethral strictures have been developed. With the leading-edge techniques now available, reconstructive urology offers today’s patients a greatly improved quality of life that had been difficult to achieve previously.
The Northwestern Medicine Department of Urology at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine continues to stand at the forefront of the field, with world-class reconstructive surgeons offering leading-edge treatments. As the specialty of urethral reconstruction continues to advance, we continue to focus on holistic treatment for every patient.