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Article
September 1964

Development and Classification of Anorectal Anomalies

Author Affiliations

DUBLIN, IRELAND
Instructor, School of Anatomy, University of Dublin (Mr. Pegum); Intern (Mr. Loly); and Consultant Gynecologist, Royal City of Dublin Hospital (Dr. Falkiner).

Arch Surg. 1964;89(3):481-484. doi:10.1001/archsurg.1964.01320030071011
Abstract

The current classification of congenital anorectal anomalies was established by Partridge and Gough,1 who divided them into two principal groups: low abnormalities, in which the termination of the bowel is below the pelvic floor (covered anus, ectopic anus, stenosed anus, anal membrane); and high abnormalities, in which the termination of the bowel is above the pelvic floor (anorectal agenesis, with or without fistula, rectal atresia, cloaca, multiple abnormalities). In their discussion of the development of this region, they said of Wood-Jones's theory (q.v. infra),

It might be reasonable to suggest that if (it) were true, one might occasionally find a rectourethral or rectovesical fistula without anorectal agenesis. This is not recorded.

The case described in this paper is the equivalent of such an anomaly in a female. Sitkovskii2 reports six similar cases seen in 17 years at the Moscow Central Pediatric Clinic. He describes one case in which

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