Temporal Trends in the Management of Urethral Stricture Disease in Australia Over the 21st Century
7 affiliations
- 1Department of Urology Ipswich Hospital Ipswich Australia
- 2Nepean Urology Research Group Nepean Hospital Kingswood Australia
- 3Faculty of Medicine, University of Sydney Sydney Australia
- 4Department of Urology Toowoomba Hospital Toowoomba Australia
- 5Faculty of Medicine, University of Queensland Brisbane Australia
- 6Faculty of Medicine, Griffith University Toowoomba Australia
- 7Faculty of Medicine, University of Southern Queensland Toowoomba Australia
Abstract
Objective: To identify trends in the management and prevalence of urethral stricture disease in Australia over a period of two decades:
Methods: Databases related to urethral procedures between financial year (FY) 2000/01 and 2022/23 were sourced from Australian Institute of Health & Welfare and Medicare Benefits Scheme. The data include length of stay and procedure counts based on age, gender and procedure type. Nationwide subsidy burden was estimated from Service Australia data.
Results: Between FY2000/01 and 2022/23, there is a decreasing trend in urethral procedures performed. We observed a 9% increase in urethroplasty procedures and a 9% decrease in urethral dilatation procedures. Urethral procedures are commonly performed in 70–79 years old, though a rise in urethroplasty in younger patients over time was observed. The ratio of urethroplasty to endoscopic procedures has shifted from 1:13 to 1:5 in the last two decades. The estimated length of stay related to urethral procedures has reduced from 2.1 to 1.4 days. The nationwide subsidy burden between FY2002/03 and 2022/23 has increased from $23 113 to $26 825 per 100 000 persons.
Conclusion: Within the last two decades, there is a reduction in urethral procedures performed nationwide; however, among the procedures performed, we observed a rise in urethroplasty and reduction in dilatation procedures. We observed more urethral procedures performed in older males, with a notable increased uptake in urethroplasty in younger patients. This suggests that there is a shift to more sub‐specialised reconstructive surgical techniques for the management of urethral stricture disease within Australia. Finally, the nationwide estimated subsidy burden has increased slightly.
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BibTeX
@article{ho2026temporal,
title = {{Temporal Trends in the Management of Urethral Stricture Disease in Australia Over the 21st Century}},
author = {Yam Ting Ho and Omattage M. Perera and Femi E. Ayeni and Nicola Jeffery and Isaac A. Thangasamy and Devang Desai},
journal = {Anz Journal of Surgery},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.1111/ans.70963},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/ans.70963},
note = {CC BY-NC-ND 4.0},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Temporal Trends in the Management of Urethral Stricture Disease in Australia Over the 21st Century
AU - Yam Ting Ho
AU - Omattage M. Perera
AU - Femi E. Ayeni
AU - Nicola Jeffery
AU - Isaac A. Thangasamy
AU - Devang Desai
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/11
JO - Anz Journal of Surgery
DO - 10.1111/ans.70963
UR - https://doi.org/10.1111/ans.70963
AB - Objective: To identify trends in the management and prevalence of urethral stricture disease in Australia over a period of two decades: Methods: Databases related to urethral procedures between financial year (FY) 2000/01 and 2022/23 were sourced from Australian Institute of Health & Welfare and Medicare Benefits Scheme. The data include length of stay and procedure counts based on age, gender and procedure type. Nationwide subsidy burden was estimated from Service Australia data. Results: Between FY2000/01 and 2022/23, there is a decreasing trend in urethral procedures performed. We observed a 9% increase in urethroplasty procedures and a 9% decrease in urethral dilatation procedures. Urethral procedures are commonly performed in 70–79 years old, though a rise in urethroplasty in younger patients over time was observed. The ratio of urethroplasty to endoscopic procedures has shifted from 1:13 to 1:5 in the last two decades. The estimated length of stay related to urethral procedures has reduced from 2.1 to 1.4 days. The nationwide subsidy burden between FY2002/03 and 2022/23 has increased from $23 113 to $26 825 per 100 000 persons. Conclusion: Within the last two decades, there is a reduction in urethral procedures performed nationwide; however, among the procedures performed, we observed a rise in urethroplasty and reduction in dilatation procedures. We observed more urethral procedures performed in older males, with a notable increased uptake in urethroplasty in younger patients. This suggests that there is a shift to more sub‐specialised reconstructive surgical techniques for the management of urethral stricture disease within Australia. Finally, the nationwide estimated subsidy burden has increased slightly.
SN - 1445-1433
SN - 1445-2197
ER -