Abstract
Abstract
Background:
Anorectal malformations (ARMs) comprise a spectrum of congenital anomalies that continue to present a challenge to patients, caregivers and paediatric surgeons. The main objective of this study was to determine the anal position index (API) from anal dimple and neoanus at the sphincter muscle complex in children with high ARM.
Methods:
Using a cross-sectional study design, the API was assessed from anal dimple and neoanus at the sphincter muscle complex in children with high ARM. All eligible children with high ARM who presented to AKTH during the study period were recruited into the study.
Results:
Forty eligible patients with an age range of 8 months to 108 months were recruited. Twenty-five were males (62.5%) with a male: female ratio of 1.7:1. The mean pre-operative API using anal dimple was 0.47 ± 0.05, while that of the post-operative API using neoanus was 0.53 ± 0.04. There was a statistically significant difference between the two indices (
t
= −11.8,
P
P
Conclusion:
This study has shown that there was a statistically significant difference between the pre-operative API and post-operative API; thus, the position of the anal dimple does not significantly predict the central position of the sphincter muscle complex.