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
