Etiological factors contributing to the formation of urethral stricture

Objective: To analyze the etiologic factors influencing the development of urethral strictures. Materials and Methods: A search and analysis of the most significant publications, selected according to their relevance criteria, was conducted from scientific studies available in the PubMed, Scopus and eLIBRARY databases. Results: An analysis of the etiologic factors contributing to the development of urethral strictures revealed the most common causes: iatrogenic injuries caused by transurethral resection and catheterization, trauma from pelvic fractures, and complications following hypospadias repair and radical prostatectomy. Cases caused by idiopathic diseases and infectious urethritis were also identified. The distribution of causes of urethral strictures varied significantly depending on the level of economic development of countries. In developed countries, the main factors leading to strictures were iatrogenic and idiopathic causes. Meanwhile, in developing countries, infectious urethritis was the most common. Iatrogenic injuries significantly worsen the results of repeat surgeries. Each subsequent surgery reduces the success rate by 50%. The development of minimally invasive technologies for the treatment of prostate pathologies has led to an increase in the incidence of iatrogenic urethral injuries, which, in turn, leads to trauma and the development of urethral strictures. Conclusion: Determining the etiology of urethral strictures serves as the basis for developing effective preventive measures and treatment strategies. This helps minimize disease-related risks, improve treatment outcomes, and optimize healthcare costs.