[The possibilities for the surgical treatment of neurogenic fecal incontinence in children].

Treatment of anal incontinence in children with a pathology of the distal portion of the spine is a serious problem. We observed 36 children aged from 3 to 6 years with the 3rd degree of fecal incontinence. Twenty patients had spina bifida, 12 had meningocele, 4 children had the following symptoms: disturbed formation of the arches, sacrum agenesia, deformity of the distal portion of the spine. The conservative treatment was effective but in children without concomitant neurological disorders (motor disorders of the lower extremities, disturbance of the perineum sensitivity). Great increase of the ano-rectal angle and decreased pressure in the anal canal were found in 12 patients with meningocele and in 4 children with severe defects of the vertebral column. They were subjected to operation of free transplantation of the preliminarily denervated muscle by the Hakelius method. Good effects were obtained in 10 cases of 12 operations.