[Treatment of anorectal fistulas: a still current problem]

95% of our patients have a simple fistula in ano. The majority of these fistulas were following a cryptoglandular abscess. No definitive incontinence occurred after laying open the fistula penetrating the anal sphincter and excision of the extrasphincteric part. In only 7% there was a temporary incontinence for faeces or flatus respectively. The recurrence rate was 5%. High fistulas are seldom an indication for a seaton. In 5% we found a complex fistula with supralevator or extrasphincteric extension. Thereby we usually performed a defunctioning colostomy. This became the permanent treatment for more than half of these patients.