title: Management of sexual assault-related large rectovaginal fistula in an eight-year-old.
abstract: Rectovaginal fistula may be a complication sexual assault in children. Management of these cases could be daunting with possibilities of significant psychological and physical morbidity. An eight-year-old girl presented with vulvar fecal leakage from a large rectovaginal fistula two weeks after sexual assault. The child was managed by initial diverting colostomy and the fistula repair was carried out via a posterior sagittal approach. This report highlights significance of initial thorough evaluation in cases with suspected traumatic rectovaginal fistula, and demonstrates benefits of posterior sagittal approach in the definitive treatment of large-sized fistula.
authors.affiliation: Sub-Department of Paediatric Surgery, University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, Nigeria. sebekenze@gmail.com
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Ekenze
authors.forename: U I
authors.initials: UI
authors.lastname: Nwagha
authors.forename: U O
authors.initials: UO
authors.lastname: Ezomike
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Obasi
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Okafor
authors.forename: E P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Nwankwo
mesh_terms: D001003:Anal Canal / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D002650:Child Abuse, Sexual; D003125:Colostomy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D012006:Rectovaginal Fistula / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery*; D012007:Rectum / Q000601:surgery; D013519:Urogenital Surgical Procedures / Q000379:methods*; D014621:Vagina / Q000601:surgery