FUNCTIONAL OUTCOMES AND QUALITY OF LIFE OF ANAL INCONTINENCE TREATMENT WITH GRACILIS MUSCLE TRANSPOSITION AS THE PRINCIPAL FLAP: A RETROSPECTIVE STUDY.

Abstract

Background: Anal incontinence is known to be a highly enfeebling, psychologically affecting condition in a healthy living individual. This condition also leads to low self‐esteem, isolation, mental depression, and also lack of confidence. This study deals with the condition of anal incontinence in older patients. The main approach is to monitor the outcome of the transposed gracilis muscle in patients with anal incontinence as a workhorse flap and also to evaluate the patients' improved quality of life.

Materials and methods: The type of the study was retrospective and a count of 36 patients with the condition anal incontinence was included. All patients were prescribed gracilis muscle transposition.

Results: The subjects included in this study were multicultural, and the transposition showed a drastic development in their quality of life in both the post-operative score and pre-operative score which indicated notable improvement in the patients.

Conclusion: This study concludes that Gracilis muscle transposition was never a new technique to be introduced although it is a better choice for treating anal incontinence.

Recommendation: Various non-surgical treatments like medications, dietary changes, bowel training, stool impaction therapy, etc are recommended. If these do not work, surgery may be recommended.