Clinical outcome of anterior overlapping external anal sphincter repair with internal anal sphincter imbrication.

UNLABELLED: Fecal incontinence caused by overt anterior sphincter defects sustained during childbirth is usually treated by a delayed overlapping repair of the external anal sphincter. However, an obstetric trauma is frequently associated with disruption of the perineal body and loss of the distal rectovaginal septum. Data regarding a combined repair, consisting of restoration of the rectovaginal septum and perineal body, overlapping external anal sphincter repair, and imbrication of the internal anal sphincter, are scanty.

PURPOSE: This prospective study was aimed at the following: 1) evaluating the clinical outcome of such an anterior anal repair in patients with fecal incontinence caused by obstetric trauma; 2) comparing the functional results with those obtained in a historical group of patients who underwent a conventional direct sphincter repair.

METHODS

During the period between 1973 and 1989, 24 female patients (median age, 44 (range, 28-67) years) with fecal incontinence underwent direct sphincter repair (Group I). During the period between 1989 and 1994, a consecutive series of 31 female patients (median age, 46 (range, 23-78) years) with fecal incontinence underwent anterior anal repair (Group II).

RESULTS

At two years of follow-up, continence had been restored in 15 patients (63 percent) in Group I, whereas restoration of continence was successful in 21 patients (68 percent) in Group II.

CONCLUSION

The more complex anterior anal repair fails to confer clinical benefit compared with the rather simple direct sphincter repair.