Fistula in ano in Nigerians.

Over a five-year period (1982-86), 77 patients (59 males, 18 females; mean age 41.32 y) with fistula in ano treated at the University of Ife Teaching Hospitals Complex were reviewed. As many as 66.24 per cent of these patients presented rather late at the hospital after 2 yr from the onset of illness. Significant clinical presentation included rectal pain, perianal itching, lax-anal-sphincteric tone and purulent fistula discharge. Low and posterior fistula was seen in as many as 49 cases, while 29 patients presented with high fistula. Fistulograms were done in 69 patients. All the patients had surgery with no post-operative complications and recurrence.