title: Continence disorders after anal fistulotomy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study was designed to detect factors that predict the occurrence of continence disorders after anal fistulotomy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective study of the charts of 312 patients was undertaken. A questionnaire was sent to all patients, with a response rate of 90 percent.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Minor continence disorders occurred in 73 patients, incontinence did not occur. Multivariate analysis (chi-squared test) was performed showing that extensions (P = 0.008), location (P = 0.03), and level (P = 0.029) of the anal opening appeared to be independent factors.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with high openings, posterior openings, or fistula extensions are at risk to develop continence disorders after anal fistulotomy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, University Hospital Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: W F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: van Tets
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Kuijpers
mesh_terms: D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D012003:Rectal Fistula / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome