Future directions in the management of anal fistula

While evolution of surgical therapies is inevitable over time, it is not to say that all changes are helpful. Yet, many of the changes witnessed to date in the development and progression of fistula surgery have played a role in both minimizing morbidity and maximizing outcomes. Yankee's catcher Yogi Berra once said, “It's tough to make predictions, especially about the future.” It is, however, clear that fistulas will continue to be a part of every colorectal surgeon's practice going forward. As such, we need to maintain efforts to improve outcomes, especially for recurrent and recalcitrant disease. In this article we will explore some of the novel and cutting-edge ideas to cure patients with fistula disease.