One can return to the normal routine in 1 to 2 weeks after the surgery. But it can take several weeks to several months for the fistula to fully heal.
The fistula tract should be treated because it will not heal by itself. There is a risk of developing cancer along the path of the fistula if left untreated for a long period of time.
A fistulectomy may take between 30 minutes and one hour, depending on the size and location of the fistula.
If the anal fistula is not treated properly, recurrent perianal abscesses and a complex network of fistulas can develop that can cause pain, bleeding, fecal incontinence, skin infections (cellulitis), and sepsis.
Anal fistulas are caused by an infection that starts in an anal gland. This infection results in an abscess that drains spontaneously or is surgically drained through the skin near the anus.
Meta description: An anal fistula is an infected area between the skin and the anus, the muscular opening at the end of the digestive tract. Fistulectomy is a surgical procedure performed to treat a fistula.