Disorders of the anus may be associated with permanent impairment. Criteria for the impairment have been published by the American Medical Association (AMA).
Parameters:
(1) signs of anal disease, defect or change in function
(2) incontinence
(3) frequency of symptoms
Signs and symptoms:
(1) bleeding
(2) pain
(3) perianal disease
(4) fistula
(5) incontinence in gas or stool
Anal Disorder or Defect
Incontinence
Symptoms
Impairment Whole Person
present
mild for gas or liquid stool
mild, intermittent, controlled by treatment
0 - 9%
present
moderate but partial fecal incontinence
frequent symptoms incompletely controlled by treatments
10 – 19%
present
complete fecal incontinence
severe and unresponsive to therapy
20 – 35%
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