[Current status of the treatments of fecal incontinence]

Fecal incontinence is common. It may have dramatic negative impacts on patients' quality of life. During the past two decades, new treatments with effective outcomes and less complications have been developed. Non-operative treatments include dietary modifications, medications, and biofeedback therapy. Operative treatments include repair (sphincteroplasty), stimulation (sacral nerve stimulation), artificial bowel sphincter implantation, muscle transposition and fecal diversion. The latest reported treatments such as radiofrequency energy delivery and injectable materials are still controversial. But those therapies, having a minimal invasive profile, may be the options before considering a surgery in some patients with mild fecal incontinence. In general, physicians have to make an individualized choice of treatment considering anal function, the quality of life and potential complications. A more invasive operative treatment must be seriously selected in patients with severe fecal incontinence. Indications, outcomes and strategy of current treatments for fecal incontinence are sufficiently discussed by authors in this article.