Short-, long-, and very long-term results of secondary anterior sphincteroplasty in 20 patients with obstetric injury

Purpose More long-term follow-up studies beyond 10 years after secondary sphincteroplasty for obstetric damage are warranted. This prospective study aimed to compare reported data on incontinence and satisfaction in a cohort of such patients examined at short-, long-, and very long-term follow-up. Methods Twenty out of 33 obstetric patients (61%) operated with secondary anterior overlapping sphincteroplasty during February 1996 to April 2004 were evaluated preoperatively and at short-, long-, and very long-term follow-up. Anal incontinence was scored by a combination of Wexner’s and St. Mark’s incontinence scores. The patients also reported degree of treatment satisfaction. Results Twenty patients were examined preoperatively and after a median (range) of 5 (2–62), 102 (64–162), and 220 (183–278) months. Corresponding incontinence scores were 11.5 (5–18), 5.5 (1–17) (p < 0.01), 10.0 (0–18) (p > 0.05), and 12.0. (1–18) (p > 0.05). With increasing follow-up times, patients reporting a better outcome were 75%, 65%, and 45%. At very long-term follow-up patients, reports were more dismal than expected in those also reporting improved incontinence cores. Incontinence scores did not improve in patients with neuropathy (n = 5) or patients (n = 5) with more than 10 years of symptoms. Conclusion Initial improvement of anal incontinence attenuated with time, in particular from short- to long-term follow-up. Patients with neuropathy experienced no improvement of incontinence. Beyond stoma formation, in compliant patients, one should consider other treatment options like sacral nerve stimulation and neosphincter formation.