The value of physiotherapy for faecal continence after correction of high anal atresia. A clinical and electromyographic study

• A follow-up study of 12 patients who had undergone Stephens rectoplasty for high imperforate anus is presented. Clinical assessment and anal electromyography were performed more than 7 years after surgery, both before and after a year's physiotherapeutic training of the perianal musculature. Electromyography showed correlation between faecal continence and tonus of the anal sphincter, the anocutaneous reflex and maximal voluntary activity in the perianal muscles. After the physiotherapeutic training there was significant improvement of faecal continence. This effect was electromyographically corroborated. The results confirmed clinical observations that postoperative physiotherapy and training of the voluntary muscles in the perianal region is of value for the achievement of faecal continence.

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