Comparing the effectiveness of single-stage and multistage buccal urethroplasty in complete obliteration of the bulbar urethra: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Bibliographic record
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Strictures of the bulbar urethra, particularly extensive ones with complete lumen obliteration, are a major challenge in reconstructive urology. AIM: The work aimed to compare the efficacy of single-stage and multistage buccal urethroplasty in adults with complete obliteration of the bulbar urethra. METHODS: A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed according to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, including data from PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Web of Science, and the Russian Science Citation Index (RSCI) up to January 2025. Comparative studies of single-stage and multistage urethroplasties using buccal mucosa grafts were analyzed. Extracted data included relapse-free survival, complication rates, urodynamic parameters, sexual function, and follow-up duration. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle–Ottawa Scale. Pooled estimates were calculated using fixed- and random-effects models (odds ratio, relative risk, mean difference, 95% confidence interval). Sensitivity and publication bias analyses were performed (funnel plot, Egger’s test). RESULTS: The meta-analysis included five comparative studies (n = 650). The 5-year relapse-free survival after single-stage reconstruction was 85% versus 60% after multistage procedures (odds ratio 2.8; 95% confidence interval 1.67–4.67; p 0.001). The overall complication rate did not differ significantly (odds ratio 0.6; 95% confidence interval 0.1–1.6; I2 = 74%); however, fistulas and deformities were more common after two-stage interventions. The mean maximum urinary flow rate was 5 mL/s higher after single-stage surgery (p 0.05). No new cases of erectile dysfunction were reported. All studies were nonrandomized (2 prospective, 3 retrospective) and had a moderate risk of bias. CONCLUSION: Single-stage buccal urethroplasty demonstrates at least comparable, and overall superior, long-term outcomes with a similar complication profile compared to the classical two-stage approach. Preference for single-stage reconstruction may help avoid prolonged treatment and repeat surgeries when sufficient healthy tissue is available. Multistage techniques remain justified in cases of panurethral stricture, lichen sclerosus, or failed previous reconstructions. Randomized controlled trials are needed to confirm these findings.
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How this classification was reachedexpand
Full frame machine prediction
Teacher imitationNot calibrated prevalence, not ground truth. Human validation pending. The Gemma side is a direct model label for every work in the frame, read from the title-only record. The Codex side is a classifier learned from the 10,348 direct Codex labels and calibrated to design-weighted sample rates; fields without enough sample support carry no Codex call. Candidate is the union of the two sides; consensus is their intersection. These outputs are machine_predicted_unvalidated and are not human labels.
Distilled classifier scores by category (both heads)
| Category | Codex | Gemma |
|---|---|---|
| Metaresearch | 0.014 | 0.026 |
| Meta-epidemiology (narrow) | 0.003 | 0.001 |
| Meta-epidemiology (broad) | 0.024 | 0.047 |
| Bibliometrics | 0.006 | 0.006 |
| Science and technology studies | 0.001 | 0.001 |
| Scholarly communication | 0.004 | 0.002 |
| Open science | 0.002 | 0.001 |
| Research integrity | 0.003 | 0.002 |
| Insufficient payload (model declined to judge) | 0.003 | 0.000 |
Machine scores (provisional)
The two teacher heads of the student model, read on this work. A score orders the frame for review; it never asserts a category, and the validation status ships verbatim with every row.
Baseline scores from an immature model (maturity gate not passed, 7 training rounds). Scores rank; they never assert a category.
score_only:v0-immature-baseline · verbatim from the scoring run: score_only means the number may rank works, and no category label ships from itClassification
machine, unvalidatedMachine predicted; a candidate call from one source (direct Gemma or distilled Codex), not a consensus.
How this classification was reached, model by model and score by score, is at the end of the page under "How this classification was reached".