An interventional study of Fistula-tract Laser Closure (FiLaC) and Open Fistulectomy in Perianal Fistula, Fistula-in-Ano and Low Perianal Fistula, sponsored by Assiut University. Not yet recruiting. Open to participants aged 18 Years and older. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2026-09-01.
Sponsored by Assiut University · Not applicable, Interventional, and Treatment
Perianal fistula is an abnormal tunnel connecting the anal canal to the perianal skin, frequently causing chronic pain, discharge, and impaired quality of life. Traditional open fistulectomy is an established treatment with high healing rates, but it leaves an open wound that requires prolonged recovery and carries a risk of anal sphincter injury. Fistula-tract Laser Closure (FiLaC) is a minimally invasive, sphincter-preserving technique that uses laser thermal energy to close the tract from within while minimizing tissue trauma.
This study is a prospective, randomized controlled trial designed to compare the efficacy and safety of open fistulectomy versus laser fistulotomy in adult patients with primary low perianal fistula.
Participants are randomly assigned to one of two surgical treatment groups:
Patients are evaluated during surgery and followed postoperatively at 24 hours, 48 hours, 1 week, 2 weeks, 4 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months. The primary goals are to assess fistula healing rates and postoperative pain levels. Secondary goals include evaluating operative time, intraoperative blood loss, wound healing duration, complication rates, time to return to daily activities, fecal continence (measured by the Wexner Continence Score), and quality of life.
169 studies on the registry are indexed under Rectal Fistula; 45 are open to participants now.
This study's planned enrollment of 40 is below the median of 66 across 115 interventional studies indexed under Rectal Fistula.
Browse Rectal Fistula studies →Assiut University is the lead sponsor of 5,078 studies on the registry; 2,178 are open to participants now.
Of its 14 completed or terminated interventional studies of FDA-regulated products, 0 (0%) have results posted.
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The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
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Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
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Informed consent
Before you join, the study team explains what taking part involves — its purpose, what happens, the risks and possible benefits — and answers your questions, so you can decide freely. Consent is usually recorded on a form (the informed consent form, ICF) signed by you or, where the law allows, by someone legally authorised to decide for you.
You can keep asking questions during the study, you are told of new information that matters, and you can choose to leave at any time.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Immunosuppression
A weakened immune system. It can come from an illness, such as HIV or some blood cancers, or from medicines that turn the immune system down, for example after an organ transplant or for an autoimmune disease; steroids at higher doses count.
Read whether the line is about a condition or about medicines, and which medicines and doses it means.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
HIV
The human immunodeficiency virus, which weakens the immune system.
Many studies now accept people whose HIV is controlled on treatment, judged by the viral load and the CD4 count. Check the limits this study sets.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Corticosteroids (steroids)
Anti-inflammatory medicines such as prednisone, prednisolone and dexamethasone — not the anabolic steroids used for muscle.
Studies differ in what they allow: check which steroid medicines, routes (tablets, injections, creams, inhalers, eye drops) and doses this study accepts.
Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.
Patients undergo Fistula-tract Laser Closure (FiLaC™) using a 1470 nm diode laser system. The internal opening is curetted and sutured closed with polyglycolic acid suture. Granulation tissue is debrided with a fistula brush, and a radially emitting laser probe is introduced through the external opening to deliver energy circumferentially (10-14 W) at a continuous withdrawal rate of 1 mm/s to obliterate the tract. The external opening is left open or loosely sutured for drainage.
Procedure: Fistula-tract Laser Closure (FiLaC)
Patients undergo conventional open fistulectomy. The fistula tract is cannulated with a malleable probe, followed by complete surgical excision of the tract and its epithelialized lining using electrocautery and sharp dissection. The surgical wound is left open to heal by secondary intention, with wound edge marsupialization performed as needed to prevent premature skin bridging.
Procedure: Open Fistulectomy
Debridement of the fistula tract using a fistula brush followed by closure of the internal opening with 2/0 polyglycolic acid suture. Photothermal obliteration of the tract is achieved using a 1470 nm diode laser system with a 360-degree radial emitting fiber delivering energy circumferentially (10-14 W) during steady withdrawal at 1 mm/s.
Complete surgical excision of the fistulous tract from the external opening to the internal opening using sharp dissection and electrocautery over a probe guide. The resulting wound is left open to heal by secondary intention with wound edge marsupialization performed as necessary.
Fistula Healing Rate at 6 Months
Percentage of participants achieving complete clinical fistula healing, defined as complete epithelialization of the surgical site and external wound with total absence of discharge or purulent drainage on clinical examination, without the need for secondary surgical intervention.
Time frame: 6 months postoperatively
No study locations are listed for this record.
Start is estimated for Oct 2026; primary completion for Oct 2027, 12 months later.
Of 53 non-industry interventional studies with no phase under Rectal Fistula, half reached primary completion within 23 months of starting (the median), counting those still running; a quarter within 11 and three quarters within 36. This study's planned 12 months is below that.
Counting every sponsor, half of 57 studies reached it within 27 months; a quarter within 11 and three quarters within 38.
How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.
This study is not yet recruiting, as verified in Aug 2026. You cannot join it, but the record below documents what was studied.
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