ABSTRACT
Fecal incontinence, the loss of anal sphincter control leading to the unwanted release
of stool or gas, is a physical and psychological handicap that has a tremendous impact
on an individual's quality of life. From a societal point of view fecal incontinence
is the second most common caused of institutionalization in the United States. Although
medical management is the mainstay of therapy for fecal incontinence, this review
concentrates on invasive techniques, with a goal of highlighting newer technological
and therapeutic advancements. The standard surgical treatment for fecal incontinence
still remains direct sphincter repair with an overlapping sphincteroplasty, but this
review concentrates specifically on biofeedback, the Procon incontinence device, local
injection of synthetic materials, radiofrequency energy (Secca procedure), antegrade
colonic enemas (ACE), sphincteroplasty, gluteoplasty, graciloplasty (both stimulated
and nonstimulated), the artificial bowel sphincter, and sacral nerve stimulation.
KEYWORDS
Fecal incontinence - surgical techniques
