High Perianal FistulaNCT07850440
Seton Re-routing for High Perianal Fistula
A study testing Seton Re-routing in people with High Perianal Fistula and Fistula-in-Ano, run by Assiut University.
Trial summary
High perianal fistulae involve a significant portion of the external anal sphincter muscle, making standard surgical fistulotomy risky due to the potential for postoperative fecal incontinence. Sphincter-preserving techniques aim to eradicate the fistula tract and promote healing while safeguarding anal continence. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- High Perianal Fistula, Fistula-in-Ano, High Anal Fistula
- What is being tested?
- Seton Re-routing
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 35 participants
- Where
- No sites listed yet
- Study dates
- Oct 2026to Nov 2027
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Age 18 years or older, of either sex.
- Diagnosed with high perianal fistula (fistula tract involving the upper two-thirds of the external anal sphincter).
- De novo or recurrent perianal fistula.
- American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification I or II.
Who cannot join
- Fistula secondary to inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis), malignancy, tuberculosis, trauma, or prior pelvic irradiation.
- Pre-existing fecal incontinence.
- Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or immunosuppressive conditions impairing wound healing.
About this study
Official title: Seton Re-routing for Treatment of High Perianal Fistula
High perianal fistulae involve a significant portion of the external anal sphincter muscle, making standard surgical fistulotomy risky due to the potential for postoperative fecal incontinence. Sphincter-preserving techniques aim to eradicate the fistula tract and promote healing while safeguarding anal continence.
The purpose of this prospective, single-arm clinical study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the two-stage seton re-routing technique in adult patients diagnosed with high perianal fistula at Assiut University Hospital.
Read more
The procedure is conducted in two stages:
- First Stage: Identification and curettage of the fistula tract followed by placement of a loose draining seton to clear local sepsis and allow fibrous maturation over an interval of 6 to 12 weeks.
- Second Stage: Creation of a low submucosal or intersphincteric tunnel beneath the main external anal sphincter complex. The seton is unthreaded and re-routed through this lower pathway, isolating the upper transsphincteric tract so it can heal spontaneously by secondary fibrosis. The resulting downstaged superficial tract is then laid open (low fistulotomy) or managed with staged seton tightening.
Participants will be monitored weekly during the first month, followed by regular monthly follow-up visits for a minimum of 6 to 9 months postoperatively. The study assesses complete fistula healing, recurrence rates, healing time, operative duration, postoperative complications, and anal continence status evaluated using the Cleveland Clinic (Wexner) Incontinence Score preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 9 months after surgery.
- Conditions
- High Perianal Fistula, Fistula-in-Ano, High Anal Fistula
- Being tested
- Seton Re-routing
- Keywords
- Seton re-routing, Loose seton, Sphincter-sparing surgery, High transsphincteric fistula, Anal continence, Wexner incontinence score, Fistulotom
- Medical subject headings
- Rectal Fistula
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Seton Re-routingProcedure or surgery
A two-stage sphincter-sparing surgical procedure: Stage 1: Under spinal or general anesthesia, identification and curettage of the tract, followed by placement of a loose draining seton through the high fistula tract for 6 to 12 weeks to control local sepsis and promote fibrotic maturation. Stage 2: An incision is made in the intersphincteric plane beneath the main external anal sphincter body to create a low submucosal or intersphincteric tunnel toward the dentate line. The seton is untied and re-routed through this lower pathway, isolating the high transsphincteric component to heal spontaneously by secondary fibrosis. The resulting downstaged low tract is either laid open immediately (low fistulotomy) or managed by staged seton tightening.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Two-Stage Seton Re-routing | Experimental | Participants undergo a two-stage seton re-routing procedure: (1) Stage 1: Under spinal or general anesthesia, identification and curettage of the tract followed by loose draining seton placement through the high fistula tract for 6-12 weeks to control sepsis and allow fibrotic maturation. (2) Stage 2: An incision is made in the intersphincteric plane beneath the main external anal sphincter body to create a low submucosal or intersphincteric tunnel toward the dentate line. The seton is untied and re-routed through this low pathway, isolating the high transsphincteric component to heal by secondary fibrosis. The resulting downstaged low superficial tract is either laid open immediately (low fistulotomy) or managed with staged seton tightening. Receives: Procedure: Seton Re-routing |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Number of Participants With Complete Fistula Healing
Complete fistula healing is defined as complete epithelialization and closure of both external and internal openings, with absence of discharge, pain, and induration on clinical examination.
Measured: 9 months
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted30 Sep 2026
- Study startOct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completionOct 2027 (estimated)
- Study completionNov 2027 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for High Perianal FistulaStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Assiut UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 35 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Assiut University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Fady Medhat Moris, Assiut University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07850440
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Seton Re-routing for Fistula
- Status last verified
- Sep 2026
- First submitted
- 24 Sep 2026
- Last updated
- 30 Sep 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 30 Sep 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Seton Re-routing for Treatment of High Perianal Fistula
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07850440
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Seton Re-routing for Fistula
- Conditions
- High Perianal Fistula, Fistula-in-Ano, High Anal Fistula
- Keywords
- Seton re-routing, Loose seton, Sphincter-sparing surgery, High transsphincteric fistula, Anal continence, Wexner incontinence score, Fistulotom
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Not yet recruiting
- Enrolment
- 35 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Assiut UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Oct 2026 (estimated)
- Primary completion
- Oct 2027 (estimated)
- Study completion
- Nov 2027 (estimated)
- First posted
- 30 Sep 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
High perianal fistulae involve a significant portion of the external anal sphincter muscle, making standard surgical fistulotomy risky due to the potential for postoperative fecal incontinence. Sphincter-preserving techniques aim to eradicate the fistula tract and promote healing while safeguarding anal continence.
The purpose of this prospective, single-arm clinical study is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the two-stage seton re-routing technique in adult patients diagnosed with high perianal fistula at Assiut University Hospital.
The procedure is conducted in two stages:
- First Stage: Identification and curettage of the fistula tract followed by placement of a loose draining seton to clear local sepsis and allow fibrous maturation over an interval of 6 to 12 weeks.
- Second Stage: Creation of a low submucosal or intersphincteric tunnel beneath the main external anal sphincter complex. The seton is unthreaded and re-routed through this lower pathway, isolating the upper transsphincteric tract so it can heal spontaneously by secondary fibrosis. The resulting downstaged superficial tract is then laid open (low fistulotomy) or managed with staged seton tightening.
Participants will be monitored weekly during the first month, followed by regular monthly follow-up visits for a minimum of 6 to 9 months postoperatively. The study assesses complete fistula healing, recurrence rates, healing time, operative duration, postoperative complications, and anal continence status evaluated using the Cleveland Clinic (Wexner) Incontinence Score preoperatively and at 3, 6, and 9 months after surgery.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Not applicable
- Intervention model
- Single group
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 1
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Two-Stage Seton Re-routing | Experimental | Procedure: Seton Re-routingParticipants undergo a two-stage seton re-routing procedure: (1) Stage 1: Under spinal or general anesthesia, identification and curettage of the tract followed by loose draining seton placement through the high fistula tract for 6-12 weeks to control sepsis and allow fibrotic maturation. (2) Stage 2: An incision is made in the intersphincteric plane beneath the main external anal sphincter body to create a low submucosal or intersphincteric tunnel toward the dentate line. The seton is untied and re-routed through this low pathway, isolating the high transsphincteric component to heal by secondary fibrosis. The resulting downstaged low superficial tract is either laid open immediately (low fistulotomy) or managed with staged seton tightening. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Age 18 years or older, of either sex.
- Diagnosed with high perianal fistula (fistula tract involving the upper two-thirds of the external anal sphincter).
- De novo or recurrent perianal fistula.
- American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) physical status classification I or II.
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Fistula secondary to inflammatory bowel disease (Crohn's disease or ulcerative colitis), malignancy, tuberculosis, trauma, or prior pelvic irradiation.
- Pre-existing fecal incontinence.
- Uncontrolled diabetes mellitus or immunosuppressive conditions impairing wound healing.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Seton Re-routingA two-stage sphincter-sparing surgical procedure: Stage 1: Under spinal or general anesthesia, identification and curettage of the tract, followed by placement of a loose draining seton through the high fistula tract for 6 to 12 weeks to control local sepsis and promote fibrotic maturation. Stage 2: An incision is made in the intersphincteric plane beneath the main external anal sphincter body to create a low submucosal or intersphincteric tunnel toward the dentate line. The seton is untied and re-routed through this lower pathway, isolating the high transsphincteric component to heal spontaneously by secondary fibrosis. The resulting downstaged low tract is either laid open immediately (low fistulotomy) or managed by staged seton tightening. | Procedure or surgery | Two-Stage Seton Re-routing |
Primary outcome
Number of Participants With Complete Fistula Healing
Time frame: 9 months
Complete fistula healing is defined as complete epithelialization and closure of both external and internal openings, with absence of discharge, pain, and induration on clinical examination.
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 30 Sep 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Seton Re-routing in people with High Perianal Fistula and Fistula-in-Ano, run by Assiut University.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: opening soon, as of the sponsor's last update on 30 Sep 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Number of Participants With Complete Fistula Healing (time frame: 9 months). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 30 Sep 2026.