Risk of recurrence of anal sphincter lacerations.

Objective: To estimate the rate of recurrence of anal sphincter lacerations in subsequent pregnancies and analyze the risk factors associated with recurrent lacerations

Methods: Data were obtained from the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council, Division of In-Patient Statistics, regarding all cases of third- and fourth-degree perineal lacerations that occurred during a 2-year period (from January 1990 through December 1991). All subsequent pregnancies in this group of women over the next 10 years were identified, and the rate of recurrence of sphincter tears and risk factors for recurrence were analyzed.

Results: The rate of anal sphincter lacerations was 7.