A surgical technique for secondary repair of obstetric anal sphincter injuries; sphinctero-vagino-perineoplasty

This study was conducted to present the preliminary results of seven patients treated with sphinctero-vagino-perineoplasty for secondary repair of obstetric anal sphincter injuries. This retrospective study was conducted on the records of seven patients who underwent secondary repair of obstetric anal sphincter injuries at the colorectal surgery unit of a tertiary care center between February 2015 and December 2017. All patients with solid stool incontinence were fully recovered at postoperative month 3. The Wexner incontinence score was significantly improved (decreased from 14.12 [range: 8-20] to 2.28 [range: 1-4]). The complication rate was 85.7% (wound infection, abscess, hematoma, detachment). Combined repair of anal sphinchters, perineal body, superficial transverse perineal muscles, and bulbospongious muscles, which contribute to anal continence, may improve surgical outcomes in patients with obstetric anal sphincter injuries.