Comprehensive review highlights variations in scoring systems for bowel function in anorectal malformation, suggesting quality of life measures are essential.
Despite advancements in surgical techniques and improved survival rates for anorectal malformation (ARM) patients, the lack of a standardized way for assessing bowel function and quality of life remains a challenge. Variability in scoring outcomes exists between systems due to inconsistencies in criteria and precise definitions, such as soiling, constipation, and continence. While older tools lack proper validation, newer scales, including the Rintala and Baylor Continence Scale (BCS), offer more structured assessment. There is also a growing acceptance of the need to incorporate quality of life measures, as ARM patients often encounter social and psychological challenges beyond physical symptoms. Multidisciplinary follow-up and age-adjusted evaluations are recommended to enhance long-term outcomes.
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Mohamed et al. (2025) studied this question.
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