Postanal repair restores anatomy rather than function.

The effects of postnatal repair on internal and external sphincter function has been assessed by comparing preoperative and postoperative manometric results in 39 patients with neurogenic fecal incontinence. Postanal repair was effective in 70 percent. The urge to defecate was restored in 70 percent, the ability to retain feces in 45 percent. The procedure caused an increase in squeeze pressure (P = .001), but clinical results were not related absolutely to improvement of external sphincter function, which remained within limits of fecal incontinence in most cases. The procedure restores anatomy rather than function. The influence of the procedure on resting pressure was not statistically significant (P = .4).