Traumatic posterior anal injury requiring a sphincteroplasty without diversion

Abstract

The anal sphincters may be divided by direct anal trauma or by severe pelvic injuries. Clinical assessment of traumatic anal injury may suffice in determining the sphincter defect in resource-limited settings where endoanal ultrasonography is not available. As long as about half the sphincter ring remains active, there is a good chance of restoring satisfactory fecal continence following an overlapping sphincteroplasty.