title: Anal incontinence among women with one versus two complete third-degree perineal lacerations.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the rate of anal incontinence and severe incontinence among women who had 0, 1, and > or =2 additional vaginal deliveries after sustaining a third-degree perineal laceration and between subjects with one versus two third-degree tears.
  
  
  METHODS
  A telephone survey was done to assess the anal function of all subjects who sustained a complete third-degree tear as a nullipara.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The rate of anal incontinence and severe incontinence was similar among women who had 0, 1, and > or =2 additional deliveries (11/65, 11/67, and 12/40, p=0.179; 2/65, 1/67, and 2/40, p=0.811) and between women who had one sphincter tear and no additional delivery versus those with two tears and > or =2 subsequent deliveries (11/65 and 10/37, p=0.225. 2/65 and 2/37, p=0.460).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Additional vaginal deliveries and a repeat sphincter tear after the initial third-degree laceration were not associated with a higher rate or severity of anal incontinence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, East Carolina University Brody School of Medicine, Greenville, NC, USA. esze@hsc.wvu.edu
authors.forename: E H M
authors.initials: EH
authors.lastname: Sze
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D036861:Delivery, Obstetric / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D022125:Lacerations / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D009657:North Carolina / Q000453:epidemiology; D010502:Perineum / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D011247:Pregnancy; D015995:Prevalence; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires