ABSTRACT
Disorders of the female urethra requiring reconstruction are rare. The most common conditions
requiring reconstruction are urethrovaginal fistula, urethral diverticulum, stricture, damage from
an indwelling catheter, and neoplasm. Surgical injury to the urethra is relatively rare, generally a
complication of urethral diverticulectomy or incontinence surgery (1), and considerably less
frequent than iatrogenic injury to the bladder or ureter. Urethrovaginal fistulae develop as a con-
sequence of obstetrical trauma, surgical injury during vaginal and pelvic surgical procedures,
erosion of synthetic materials placed near the urethra including synthetic pubovaginal slings
and vaginal grafts (2,3), neoplasm, and radiotherapy (4). The diagnosis of urethrovaginal fistula
is made by history and physical examination in the majority of cases, but in some instances,
particularly when there is erosion of a synthetic pubovaginal sling, it is appreciated only at
the time of cystoscopy.
