[Activities of the Japanese Group for the Study of Anorectal Anomalies].

Although an excellent classification of anorectal anomalies was proposed by Stephens and Smith in 1970, some problems came out when this classification was adopted to the clinical materials. In 1974, a study group on anorectal anomalies was formed in Japan to collect cases enough to undertake further investigation on the classification of anorectal anomaly. A registration form was defined in that year with standardization of technics and indications for clinical and roentgenological investigations. Through studies of the group, some aspects on the classification was reported on the Journal of Pediatric Surgery in 1982 with comments to the "International" classification. Recently, the study group also arranged a standard for the clinical assessment of the function of the anus and published it in the Journal of the Japanese Society of Pediatric Surgeons in 1982. Approximately 800 cases have been collected and analysed by the study group to date. Group study will continue to propel studies on anorectal anomalies and to improve results of surgical treatments.