Comparison of uni-and bilateral buccal mucosa harvesting in terms of oral morbidity

Objective: To evaluate the oral morbidity associated with uni- or bilateral buccal mucosal graft harvesting in the treatment of urethral stricture.

Material and methods: Forty-two men with anterior urethral stricture who were treated with dorsal onlay buccal mucosal graft urethroplasty were enrolled in this study. The graft was harvested from both cheeks in patients with a stricture length of ≥7 cm and from one cheek, if the stricture length was <7 cm. The post-operative pain score, the time required to return to a regular diet, the time required to achieve full mouth opening, the numbness and the salivary changes were compared between the two groups.

Results: The bilateral buccal mucosal graft harvest group was disadvantaged in terms of the 7th day pain score, the time required to return to a regular diet and the time to achieve full mouth opening (p<0.05). No significant differences were found in the salivary changes and numbness of the two groups.

Conclusion: The morbidity of bilateral buccal mucosal graft harvesting is greater than that of unilateral harvesting, especially in the short term. However, this morbidity is well tolerated by the patients in the long term.