Complete Perineal Tears: Prevalence Etiology And Outcome After Treatment

Abstract

31 patients with complete perineal tears were studied for the incidence, etiology and outcome after treatment, in one year period. Out of the total 31 patients, 28 patients were admitted with already established tears, after delivering some where else, while 3 patients sustained tears during delivery in this hospital. The contributory factors include prolonged labour, primigravidity, malpresentations particularly breech presentation, malpositions suchas occipito-posterior position, big baby, unattened delivery and mismanagement of labour by traditional birth attendants. Instrumental delivery and extension of episiotomy were also amongst the contributory factors. All the tears were reparied surgically and patients were followed up for upto 8 weekspostoperatively. 94% of the patients had functional anal sphincters and bence successful repairs at the 8 weeks follow up visits.