Male reconstructive urology (also called male genitourinary reconstruction) can be used to treat physical abnormalities, repair trauma related to major surgery or accidents, or manage certain bladder control problems like incontinence and OAB. Beaumont is at the forefront of urological surgery, offering comprehensive services and programs to help patients with a number of reconstructive needs.
Reasons for Reconstructive Procedures
Your doctor may have a number of reasons for having to perform male reconstructive urological techniques to correct complications due to disease, injury or major medical procedures.
Urethral Strictures
Hardened tissue in the urethra that can obstruct urine flow are called urethral strictures. Men are rarely born with urethral strictures, which develop over time due to infection or medical procedures involving the urethra. They may be caused by inflammation or scar tissue from surgery, urinary tract infections, injury or repeated catheterization. Urethral strictures may also be caused by pressure from a growing tumor near the urethra, although this is rare.
Complications Following a Prostatectomy
The primary goal of a prostatectomy is to remove all the cancerous tissue and though the surgery is fairly routine, it is still major surgery, even if done robotically. Additional procedures and treatments can help you recover full use of sexual and urinary function should complications arise. Erectile dysfunction and incontinence are common conditions following prostate surgery and can be corrected using reconstructive techniques.
External Trauma
Trauma to the urethra, prostate and bladder are often the result of major injuries to the pelvis or from blunt-force trauma and can require surgery to repair damage, realign the urinary tract or remove scar tissue post-care. Common injuries include damage to the bladder, tears or severe inflammation of the prostate or blockages of the urethra.
Incontinence
Surgery can be used to treat cases of overflow incontinence and stress incontinence by either reshaping the urethra, supporting the urethra or adding nerve stimulation to assist with bladder control. Surgery to correct incontinence following a prostatectomy is common.
Learn more about managing adult incontinence.
Reconstructive Procedures
Beaumont urologists offer a wide range of treatments for men requiring male reconstructive urology to correct issues related to male infertility, prostate diseases, urologic cancers, incontinence and sexual dysfunction.
Bladder Control Treatments
- InterStim®: a proven treatment for overactive bladder, urinary retention and fecal incontinence. Read more.
- Nerve Rerouting: surgeons use nerve rerouting to redirect nerves in the spinal cord to gain better control of urination. After the procedure, patients signal the bladder to urinate by scratching or pinching their leg or buttocks.
- Artificial Urinary Sphincters (AUS): used to treat stress incontinence, where significant urinary leakage occurs during exercise, coughing, sneezing, laughing, lifting heavy objects, or other body movements.
Urethral Reconstructive Surgery
- Urethroplasty
- Mitrofanoff Procedure
- Ileal Conduit Formation
- Ileal Neobladder
- Indiana Pouch
- Ureteral Reimplantation
Pediatric Reconstructive Surgery
- Hypospadias Repair: surgery used to correct a birth defect in which the urethra doesn't end at the tip of the penis, but instead on the underside, middle, or bottom of the penis, or in more severe cases, in or behind the scrotum.
Sexual Dysfunction Surgery
- Erectile Dysfunction: characterized by the inability to develop or maintain an erection during sexual intercourse. This can be treated with penile prostheses surgery in which a semi-rigid, malleable rod or an inflatable implant is inserted into the penis.
- Surgery to repair Peyronie’s Disease: Peyronie's Disease is the development of a lump on the shaft of the penis that is usually the result of an acute or chronic injury during sexual relations. The three primary types of procedures used to address Peyronie's disease are:
- Penile Plication Procedures: These procedures involve a tuck procedure on the side opposite to the scar, shortening the long side of the penis. This procedure is simple and preserves preoperative erection ability but can include loss of penile length.
- Penile Prosthesis Surgery: Placement of a penile implant allows immediate correction of the penile curvature as well as allowing fully rigid erections. This procedure is generally reserved for men with combined erectile dysfunction and penile curvature.
- Plaque Incision/Excision and Grafting: These procedures involve the complete or partial removal of the plaque or its incision, with the placement of a graft into the space left by the technique. This approach is typically not associated with loss of penile length but men can develop postoperative erectile dysfunction and prolonged loss of penile sensation.