| Objectives The high recurrence rate is still the major complication of endoscopic treatment of urethral stricture. To evaluate the outcome and efficacy of internal urethrotomy (IU) followed by urethral dilation protocol. Methods From January 2003 to December 2007, a total of 45 male patients were chosen at random in this study. The age range was 10-76 years old and the mean age was 45.4±14.6 years old. The length of the stricture was 2.0 cm or less. All patients firstly underwent IU and then performed urethral dilations in which urethral dilating sound (Max F22) is used to treat their urethral strictures. The urethral dilation protocol was carried out once a week in the 1st month, once in the 3rd, the 6th and the 12th month respectively. The analysis of the short-term results of IU and urethral dilation protocol was carried out to determine the efficacy of the procedures. Results The follow-up time ranged from one to five years and the mean time was 27.2 months. 31 cases were cured(68.9%),9 cases were improved(20%), the recurrence occurred to 5 patients (11.1%). The results are consistent with other studies and confirm that as the preferred procedure in urethral stricture of penile, bulbar, membraneous and prostatic urethra. Conclusions The IU and regular urethral dilation is a rational choice for treatment of urethral strictures at the length of less than 2cm. This procedure allays the stricture recurrence rate, possibly eliminates the need for consecutive IU or open urethroplasty, and reduces morbidity.
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