Clinicopathological determinants of recurrence after surgical treatment of fistula-in-ano in a Ghanaian teaching hospital

Aim: The aim of this work is to describe the clinicopathological and surgical aspects of fistula-in-ano and assess the risks associated with recurrence of the disease in a Ghanaian teaching hospital. Method: This was a retrospective observational study assessing all fistula-in-ano surgeries performed at the Korle Bu Teaching hospital from January 2014 to January 2021 that had completed follow up of at least 3 months after wound healing. Demographic, clinical, pathological and surgical data were extracted from patient records. Logistic regression analysis was used to test for association between these variables and recurrence. Results: A total of 105 patients underwent 124 fistula surgeries. Their median age was 41 years, the male:female ratio was 4:1 and 12 had comorbidities including human immunodeficiency virus infection and diabetes mellitus. Thirty-one per cent (39/124) of fistulas had previously been operated on. At surgery, 51% (64/124) of fistulas followed a single straight tract, 30% (37/124) a single curved tract and 19% (23/124) had multiple curved tracts. More than half (65/124) were trans-sphincteric, 35% (44/124) suprasphincteric, 10% (12/124) subsphincteric and 2% (3/124) were intersphincteric. Sixty per cent of fistulas were treated with a ligation of intersphincteric fistula tract (74/124), 35% (44/124) a fistulectomy and 5% a fistulotomy. Recurrence after surgery was 22.5% (28/124); this was significantly higher for fistulas with multiple curved tracts (OR 4.153, 95% CI 1.431–12.054, p = 0.012) and fistulas with comorbidities (OR 3.222, 95% CI 1.076–9.647, p = 0.037). Conclusion: There was high recurrence after fistula surgery with increased risk for fistulas with multiple tracts and the presence of comorbidities.