Anal incontinence is the inability to control the passage of flatus or stool via the anus, Although it does not pose a major health risk, incontinence does restrict social interaction and employment opportunities.
Anatomical disrution of sphincter mechanism occurs as a result of traumatic injury, surgical mishap, or following obstetric tears extending into the anal canal.
At the Hallym university, we used overlapping sphincteroplasty in 9 patients with anal incontinence from 1987 to 1991. There were 8 women and 1 man. Incontinence had been present from 4 years to 30 years and had been caused by obstetric
injury(N=6),
previous fistula operation (N=1), perineal trauma (N=1), and perineal infection (N=1). The mean age was 37.6% years (range, 4-55 years).
Nine patients were followed for an average 17.7 months(range 2-52 months).
At clinical assessment carried out after 2 months, gas incontinence was developed in one patient and mild anal stricture in another patient.
From our experience, temporary concomitant colostomy was not necessary.
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