**7. Discussion and conclusion**

The problem of anal continence presents a big obstacle when trying to treat anal fistula. It is of paramount importance to avoid any continence disturbances which in itself presents a hurdle to implementing more successful but invasive procedures regarding the anal sphincter mechanism. The solution might lie in a relatively new paradigm that puts intersphincteric space as a likely culprit to fistula recurrence or nonhealing, and subsequent shift in surgical approach. These new approaches still require multicentric verifications to be implemented as a mainstream treatment option.

Overall, novel approaches in anal fistula treatment, while not entirely successful in all of the patients, offer a significant increase in patients' quality of life, and allow for repeated surgical procedures if the initial operation fails at no expense on the anal sphincter.

While various researchers made different molecular research on anal fistula that increased our understanding of fundamental pathologic mechanisms, still no findings translate into clinical practice in the sense that they made any difference on already existing surgical approaches.

The most widespread classification of fistulas are somewhat inadequate and do not transfer well to clinical situations. Parks classification may describe the relation of the anal fistula to anal sphincter muscles but does not distinguish between simple and complex fistulas. St. James University Hospital classification also doesn't seem relatable to the clinical situations in the era of sphincter preserving techniques. A possible solution to this may be Garg classification that still needs confirmatory commentaries from other colorectal surgeons and proctologists.

Anal fistulas in Crohn's disease present a different challenge. With current surgical solutions, we cannot hope to cure the condition but rather to ameliorate symptoms. Medical therapy in combination with surgical solutions can significantly reduce the severity of the disease and even hope to eradicate it completely.

The anal fistula condition remains a daunting task for the surgeon and a strenuous malady for the patient. Even though recent years brought advancements in the form of sphincter preserving techniques, which greatly improved treatment options, still no golden standard for anal fistula treatment exists. This problem still seems unlikely to resolve given the heterogeneity of pathology unless a radically different approach or breakthrough isn't achieved.
