Relevance Of Goodsall’s Rule In Fistula-In-Ano

Abstract

In the year 1900 David Henry Goodsall described a rule regarding relationship of 'external opening to the tract' in cases of Fistula-in-ano. According to Goodsall's rule 'if the external opening is anterior to the transverse anal line and within 3 cm. from the anal verge, the internal opening will be in straight radial line. But, if the external opening is behind the transverse line or more than 3 cm. from the anal verge, the internal opening will be at the posterior midline of the anal canal.'In such cases the tract will be a tortuous one. We tried to justify his postulation by analyzing about 70 patients of fistula-in-ano. ABBREVIATION IS—Internal sphincter SM—Sub-mucosal external sphincterSF—Superficial external sphincter DE—Deep external sphincterPR—Pubo-rectalis muscle LA—Levatorani muscleFistula—Fistula-in-ano Tract—Hollow trct of fistula KEY WORD: Fistula, Tract, Internal and external openings.