Perineal examination as a predictor of underlying external anal sphincter damage

Objective To assess the relation between perineal inspection and sphincter integrity in parous women.
Design Prospective observational study.
Setting District general hospital.
Population Fifty-seven consecutive parous women attending a gynaecology clinic for problems unrelated to the pelvic floor.
Methods A detailed history of bowel function and mode of delivery obtained; the perineum inspected to determine the presence and position of scarring, and anal endosonography performed.
Results In 19 women with an intact perineum on inspection, endosonography showed perineal scarring in five, with both perineal and sphincter scarring in three. Four had urge faecal incontinence. Three patients had a perineal tear only on inspection, but this group was too small for analysis and was discounted. Nine had an episiotomy scar only. Endosonography demonstrated perineal scarring in four, and combined perineal and sphincter scarring in two; one woman in this group had urge faecal incontinence. Twenty-six women had episiotomy and perineal tears on inspection. Endosonography revealed underlying perineal scarring in five women, with combined perineal and sphincter scarring in 14; six women in this group had urge faecal incontinence and one passive incontinence for flatus. Sonographically the scarring was anterior and circumferential rather than radial, and mostly left-sided, whereas on inspection episiotomy and perineal scarring were right sided.
Conclusions A normal perineum on clinical examination does not exclude underlying sphincter damage. The incidence of sphincter damage increases significantly when an episiotomy scar is associated with a perineal tear.     

月骨,三角骨周围性腕骨轴向崩解症

本文报告３例罕见的新鲜性月骨、三角骨周围性腕骨轴向崩解症。该症是在腕的三个纵向功能解剖的基础上，遭受了以纵向为主兼有侧向偏斜的暴力而发生的。它的基本病变是月骨及三角骨与桡骨关系正常，而其余腕骨皆在其三个纵轴间发生崩解，致使患腕在结构上出现了严重紊乱。在这种复杂的病变中月骨和舟骨起着关键的作用，亦是腕骨轴向崩解的基础。本病在受伤机制、临床诊断以及治疗方法上，均与月骨周围性脱位或创伤性腕骨轴向脱位有着明显的区别，因而本病应视为一种独立的病种。本组病例有桡偏型２例，采用切开复位；另１例为尺偏型，采用闭合手法而顺利复位。本组病例经７～３６个月的随访，结果表明患腕功能恢复良好。