SURGICAL TREATMENT OF ANAL INCONTINENCE

This study is a review of 31 patients undergoing surgery for anal incontiencne. Three groups of patients are defined ‐ those with incontience due to trauma (nine patients), to a combination of trauma and degeneratin (five patients), and to degeneratin alone (17 patients). Two surgical techniques were used ‐ etiher a direct repair of the anal sphincter or a postanal repair of the levator ani muscles and external sphincter (Parks operation). In the trauma group and the combined group the more common method use was a direct repair (ten patients) ‐ five underwent a Parks operation. In the degeneration groups all but one patient underwent a Parks operation. A defuctioning proximal colostomy was carried out in only four patients ‐ all with incontinence due to trauma. Satisfactory continece was restored in 80% of these patients. Although this is a samll series, the results are considered wothwhile and greater awarnesess and use of the above tecniques is recmmended. Copyright © 1979, Wiley Blackwell. All rights reserved