Since the anatomic and physiologic structure of the anorectal section carries too specific features, treatment of the fistulas occurring in this area brings with it many difficulties. Taking into account that intersecting external sphincter and—puborectal—muscles will cause anal incontinence during the treatment, it is necessary to maintain the integrity of these muscles to a large extent. Anal fistulas can be examined under two categories, simple (can be treated with fistulotomy) and complex (when the fistulotomy contradicts/counteracts). Basic fistula can be treated easily by fistulotomy and—can be left—for secondary intention. In complex fistulas, set-on application or periodic surgeries are the methods used in order to remove the fistula trace.
This application is not only persistent but also hard for the patient and the treatment concludes with failure due to the high rate of incontinence risk. The treatment principle on fistulas, removing the dead tissues at the fistula trace, moving away the excreting mucous and opening the bloody tissue in order to stimulate the granulation tissue which helps filling the trace.
Although this purpose is achievable with fistulotomy in basic fistulas, fistulotomy cannot be applied in complex fistulas as it will cause anal inefficiency. By gradually cutting the muscle tissue, which forms the sphincter, a method will be applied that will provide healing fibrous tissue.
The cut is executed while the reaction starts with cutting the muscle mass which develops granulation tissue, merging the execrated muscle tissues with fibrous structure and the expectation of filling the fistula trace. While this is not always successful, it causes loss of continence in a certain ratio due to the sphincter dysfunction which fuses with the fibrous tissue.
Hence, there is a need for a device to cure such fistulas.