Surgical treatment of traumatic cloaca

Abstract

Purpose: To assess the functional results of surgical treatment of traumatic cloaca by a technique including reconstructive plastic surgery of the perineal body and of the rectovaginal septum using the puborectal and external sphincter muscles. Methods: Six female patients were submitted to surgical treatment for correction of the cloaca over a period of 5 years (2002 to 2007). Loop sigmoidostomy was parformed in two patients. The mean duration of symptoms before surgical treatment was 97.5 months (4 months to 36 years), mean patient age was 36 years (17 to 58 years) and the follow-up period was 14.6 months (6 months to 2 years). Results: Five patients (83.3%) regained fecal and flatus continence and one patient had flatus incontinence. Discussion: Surgical treatment yields good results, is safe and involves low rates of complications.