Combined sphincter repair and postanal repair for the treatment of complicated injuries to the anal sphincters.

The management of seven patients with multiple injuries to the anal sphincter musculature and its nerve supply, from major pelvic trauma, anal fistula surgery, or obstetric trauma, was reviewed. All were either incontinent of solid stools or had defunctioning colostomies. Anal manometry was abnormal in all patients. Concentric needle electromyography (EMG) showed anterior division of the external sphincter in all the patients; five also had posterior division of both the external sphincter and puborectalis. EMG abnormalities were found in the lateral quadrants of these muscles, particularly the external sphincter. Single fibre needle EMG showed evidence of reinnervation in the external sphincter in six patients, and in the puborectalis in two, indicating partial denervation of the muscles. Treatment was by anterior sphincter repair using an overlapping technique, combined with postanal repair; the repairs were protected by a defunctioning colostomy. When assessed 4-60 months (mean 17 months) after colostomy closure all seven patients were continent of solid and semi-formed stools, but had urgency of defaecation. None could control liquid stool or flatus. After complicated sphincter injuries planned surgical reconstruction, based on EMG assessment of the sphincter muscles, can restore acceptable continence.