Table 4 Bowel function score (≥ 4 years old)

Patient answering the Rintala questionnaire

N = 150 (71.4%)

N = 78 (66.7%)

Median follow-up interval, years

6.8 [4.7, 9.4]

7.5 [5.6, 9.8]

Median follow-up age, years

10.0 [8.1, 12.4]

7.9 [6.0, 9.9]

Ability to hold back defecation, n (%)

 Always

3

112 (74.7)

50 (64.1)

 Problems less than 1/week

2

17 (11.3)

10 (12.8)

 Weekly problems

1

12 (8.0)

11 (14.1)

 No voluntary control

0

9 (5.9)

7 (9.0)

Feels/reports the urge to defecate, n (%)

 Always

3

108 (72.0)

47 (60.3)

 Most of the time

2

26 (17.3)

20 (25.6)

 Uncertain

1

11 (7.3)

7 (9.0)

 Absent

0

5 (3.3)

4 (5.1)

Frequency of defecation, n (%)

 Every other day to twice a day

2

114 (76.0)

55 (71.4)

 More than

1

17 (11.3)

13 (16.9)

 Less than

1

19 (12.7)

9 (11.7)

Soiling, n (%)

 Never

3

67 (44.7)

31 (39.7)

 Staining<1/week, no change of underwear required

2

32 (21.3)

17 (21.8)

 Frequent staining, change of underwear often required

1

36 (24.0)

22 (28.2)

 Daily soiling, requires protective aids

0

15 (10.0)

8 (10.3)

Fecal accidents, n (%)

 Never

3

116 (77.3)

59 (75.6)

 Fewer 1/week

2

13 (8.7)

10 (12.8)

 Weekly, requires protective aids

1

15 (10.0)

7 (9.0)

 Daily, requires protective aid day and night

0

6 (4.0)

2 (2.6)

Constipation, n (%)

 No constipation

3

133 (88.7)

64 (82.1)

 Manageable with diet

2

11 (7.3)

9 (11.5)

 Manageable with laxatives

1

6 (4.0)

5 (6.4)

 Manageable with enemas

0

0 (0.0)

0 (0.0)

Social problems, n (%)

 No social problems

3

125 (83.3)

67 (85.9)

 Sometimes

2

17 (11.3)

7 (9.0)

 Problems restricting social life

1

6 (4.0)

1 (1.3)

 Severe social/psychosocial problems

0

2 (1.3)

3 (3.8)

Total BFS, n (%)

 Good bowel function

≥ 17

105 (70.0)

47 (60.3)

 Moderate bowel function

12–16

29 (19.3)

21 (26.9)

 Poor bowel function

<12

16 (10.7)

10 (12.8)