**Limitations of the study**

The limitations of this study are represented by the low number of cases, our center not being a colorectal surgery center thus the addressability of the patients is low. Our study is focused predominantly on the use of the Wexner score system for the evaluation of sphincter function, other scoring systems (Rothenberger, Vaizey, Fecal Incontinence Severity Index) could provide a better assessment of the functional outcome, but the easiest score to use is in our opinion the Wexner. The short-term follow-up is another inconvenient of the study, the results being preliminary. Follow-up of these patients is ongoing.
