Urethral length in girls with lower urinary tract symptoms and forme fruste of female epispadias

Abstract 

Purpose

To investigate systematically the length of the urethra in girls with lower urinary tract symptoms.

Materials and methods

In a group of 121 consecutive girls presented at a tertiary referral clinic for urinary incontinence or recurrent urinary tract infections, urethral length was measured by perineal ultrasound. The urethra was measured with the patient in supine position without anesthesia. Mean age of the patients was 7.8 (0–15) years.

Results

Average urethral length was 26mm. Minimum length was 12mm, measured in a 5-year-old girl with dribbling incontinence. Maximum measured length was 40mm in a 15-year-old girl. In four girls (3.3%), aged 1–10 years (mean 6.3), a short urethra was detected, with measured lengths of 12 and 14mm. All four had normal genitalia, and were referred with therapy-resistant urinary incontinence or urinary tract infections. A gradual increase in average urethral length was measured from 23mm at birth to 32mm at 15 years.

Conclusion

Urethral length can be measured accurately by ultrasound. Although a short urethral length is rarely detected by ultrasound in girls with incontinence, it may be associated with therapy-resistant incontinence. In such cases, different treatment options are available.

Keywords: Urethral length, Girls, LUTS, Epispadias, Incontinence