Restoration of fecal continence after functional gluteoplasty: long-term results, technical refinements, and donor-site morbidity.
OBJECTIVE
For patients with severe fecal incontinence, reconstruction of the anal sphincter, via gluteoplasty, may improve quality of life, but little is known about long-term functional results. We present our comprehensive experience with gluteoplasty, highlighting technical refinements, donor-site morbidity, and functional outcomes.


METHODS
We performed a retrospective analysis of 25 consecutive patients (22 female, 3 male; mean age 42 years, range 23-65) undergoing gluteoplasty for fecal incontinence at a university teaching hospital from 1996-2004. Etiology of incontinence was as follows: obstetrical injury (n = 13), irritable bowel syndrome (n = 3), previous rectal surgery (n = 3), Crohn disease (n = 3), impalement (n = 1), rectocele (n = 1), and idiopathic (n = 1).


RESULTS
Gluteoplasty was successful in restoring fecal continence in 18 patients (72%) and was partially successful in 4 patients (16%). Two patients required permanent ostomy because of refractory incontinence. Donor-site morbidity and perirectal complications were observed in 16 patients (64%) and included dysthesias (n = 7), cellulitis (n = 5), irregular contour (n = 3), abscess (n = 2), seroma (n = 2), fistula (n = 1), but no hip dysfunction or altered gait. Mean length of follow-up was 20.6 months (range: 3-68 months).


CONCLUSIONS
Despite a high incidence of donor-site and perirectal complications, unilateral functional gluteoplasty was successful in restoring long-term fecal continence in most patients.
Hultman
C Scott
CS
Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-7195, USA. cshult@med.unc.edu
Zenn
Michael R
MR
Agarwal
Tripti
T
Baker
Christopher C
CC
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001003:Anal Canal / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002081:Buttocks; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D019651:Plastic Surgery Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D013524:Surgical Flaps; D016896:Treatment Outcome