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. 2020 Jul 2;31(11):2317–2326. doi: 10.1007/s00192-020-04405-2

Table 3.

Treatment or procedures required for complications in women with obstetric anal sphincter injuries (excluding the 3 women with a rectal buttonhole tear)

Number of women (%) Total
(N = 1147)
3a tear
(n = 422)
3b tear
(n = 420)
3c tear
(n = 160)
Ungraded 3rd-degree tear (n = 83) Fourth-degree tear (n = 62) p-valuea OR, 95% CI p-valueb OR, 95% CI p-valuec OR, 95% CI
dWound re-suturing 10 (0.9) 2 (0.5) 5 (1.2) 1 (0.6) 1 (1.2) 1 (1.6) 0.33 0.79 0.42
dSecondary sphincter repair 11 (1.0) 1 (0.2) 2 (0.5) 5 (3.1) 1 (1.2) 2 (3.2) 0.09

< 0.01*

OR = 9.0, 2.1–38.2

0.11
dLidocaine gel for perineal pain 23 (2.0) 10 (2.4) 5 (1.2) 4 (2.5) 4 (4.9%) 0 0.34 0.54 0.63
dCocktail injection 2 0 1 0 1 0 0.58 0.84 0.90
dSilver nitrate for granulation tissue 21 (1.8) 3 (0.7) 9 (2.1) 2 (1.3) 6 (7.3%) 1 (1.6) 0.12 0.86 1.0
dVaginal dilators 5 (0.4) 1 (0.2) 2 (0.5) 0 1 (1.2) 1 (1.6) 0.76 0.45 0.24
dScar re-fashioning 5 (0.4) 2 (0.5) 3 (0.7) 0 0 0 0.93 0.33 1.0

95% CI = 95% confidence interval; OR = odds ratio

*Statistically significant p-value

a: comparing between 3a and 3b/c tear grade

b: comparing between 3a/b and 3c tear grade

c: comparing between overall third- and fourth-degree tear

d: chi-square test and Fisher exact tests are used