Perianal injection of autologous fat for treatment of sphincteric incontinence.

PURPOSE: The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of treatment of partial fecal incontinence with perianal injection of autologous fat.
METHODS: The study comprised 14 patients with partial fecal incontinence (9 women and 5 men). Ages ranged from 38 to 62 years. Fifty to 60 ml of fat were harvested from the abdominal wall and injected submucosally into the rectal neck at 3 and 9 o'clock positions. Mean follow-up was 18.6 months.
RESULTS: All patients were continent during the first two to three postinjection months. At the sixth month, patients were divided into three scores. Score 1 (complete continence) comprised three patients who are now continent for 9, 11, and 14 months postinjection, with normalization of their rectal neck pressure. Seven patients with Score 2 were incontinent to flatus and were reinjected; they are now continent (Score 1) for a mean of 13.8 months and have normal rectal neck pressure. Four patients had Score 3 (no improvement), of whom two became continent after the second injection and two after the third. They are now continent (Score 1) 6 to 16 months postinjection. Factors that contributed to failure comprised injection of unwashed fat or wrong positioning of the needle. There was no fat migration or embolism.
CONCLUSION: Perianal fat injection is effective in treatment of partial fecal incontinence. The technique is simple, easy, cost-effective, and performed on an outpatient basis.