ABSTRACT
Disorders of continence are frequently neglected but rather common complications of anorectal surgery. The disorder is difficult for patients to accept, since it is not caused by a disease but by a surgical procedure that first was considered to be a minor one and threatens to destroy their social and sexual life. It mainly concerns soiling and impaired control for flatus and liquid, although true fecal incontinence does occur. Soiling is the most common continence disorder. The cause is an isolated impaired function of the internal sphincter. The reported incidence of continence disorders goes up to even 30 to 50% after partial internal sphincterotomy and fistulotomy. The only surgical treatment for iatrogenic incontinence is postanal repair. Soiling due to impaired internal sphincter function cannot be treated by postanal repair; it has no effect on resting pressure.
