A novel material in seton treatment of fistula-in-ano.

Fistula-in-ano is a common surgical problem. Various materials have been used to perform the seton technique in the treatment of fistula-in-ano. In this study, a novel material, a self-locking cable tie, was used regardless of the fistula type. Seventeen consecutive patients with anal fistula underwent surgery with the cutting seton technique using the novel material. Nine patients had high fistulas. The average tightening was 3.18, the mean fall-out time was 17.41 days, and the mean follow-up period was 8.2 months. No recurrences or incontinence were recorded. There are statistically significant differences between superficial and high fistula cases regarding the number of setons tightening, seton fall-out time, and complete healing time. The novel material presented here has some advantages: it is cheap, easily available, and easily applied, moreover, a gradual tightening can be performed. We think this novel material is a good choice in the treatment of fistula-in-ano.