Background: The long-term closure rate of high perianal fistulas after surgical treatment remains disappointing.
Objective: The goal of this study was to improve the long-term closure rate of high cryptoglandular perianal fistulas combining mucosal advancement flap with platelet-rich plasma.
Design: This study was retrospective in design.
Setting: This study was conducted at 2 secondary and 1 tertiary referral hospitals.
Patients: Patients presenting with high cryptoglandular perianal fistulas involving the middle/upper third of the anal sphincter complex were included.
Interventions: A staged surgical treatment was performed; After seton placement, a mucosal advancement flap was combined with platelet-rich plasma.
Main outcome measures: Recurrence was the main outcome. Incontinence was the secondary outcome.
Results: We operated on 25 patients between 2006 and 2012. Thirteen (52%) patients had previous fistula surgery. The median follow-up period was 27 months. One patient (4.0%) was lost to follow-up after 4 months. Freedom from recurrence at 2 years was 0.83 (95% CI, 0.62-0.93). Two of the 4 patients with a recurrence (8%) had a repeated treatment and healed. One patient (4.0%) refused another treatment, but agreed to stay in follow-up. One patient (4.0%) requested a colostomy, resulting in closure of the fistula. Complications occurred in 1 patient (4.0%). Incontinence numbers were low with a median Vaizey score of 3.0 out of a maximum of 24.
Limitations: The study was limited by its retrospective design, lack of preoperative incontinence data, selection bias, and phone interview follow-up.
Conclusion: The long-term outcome results of patients with primary and recurrent high cryptoglandular perianal fistulas treated with a seton followed by mucosal advancement flap and platelet-rich plasma show low recurrence, complication, and incontinence rates. Therefore, this technique seems to be a valid option as treatment. Larger and preferably randomized controlled studies are needed to further explore this surgical technique.
Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01615302.