A Long-term Postoperative Assessment of Anorectal Function in Anorectal Malformation: Based on an Electromyography Study

The postoperative anorectal function was assessed by clinical scores and surface-electrode EMG of external anal sphincter on 72 patients with anorectal malformation.63 normal children served as controls. EMG score wasgood in 76%of the patients with low defotniities,29% of the patients with intermediate and 24% of the patients with high deformities EMG score was parallel to the clinical score. Electric activity decreased remarkablely in the postoperative group. The degree of decrease was determined by the type of deformities, the style of the operation and the location of the anorectum. The results show that the external anal sphincter plays an important role in the anal control at rest or at urgency. EMG of external anal sphincter will give important information on the treatment of anal incontinence.