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Traumatic rectovaginal fistula after sexual intercourse following a non-consensual anal penetration: a case report and a review of the literature

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Abstract

Rectovaginal fistulas are rare genital lesions, often due to obstetric causes. More rarely they are a consequence of sexual intercourse. We present the case of a 36-year-old woman who presented to a gynecological emergency department with pelvic pain and feces coming from the vagina. This symptomatology appeared after non-consensual anal intercourse following consensual penile vaginal penetration. She was treated for a perforation of the rectovaginal septum. On the basis of our results, we reviewed the cases published in the literature, with a summary of the elements that may favor the appearance of this lesion, such as “virginity”, obstetrics and gynecological history, or coitus position, its classification by size and localization, and the therapeutic indications (suture repair of the wall or a colostomy). Better knowledge of this type of lesion would improve the practice of forensic pathologists for screening and management.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Université de Lorraine, CHU Nancy, Service de Médecine Légale, 54000, Nancy, France

    Elodie Marchand & Laurent Martrille

  2. CHU Lille, Service de Médecine Légale, 59000, Nancy, France

    Valéry Hedouin

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  1. Elodie Marchand
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  2. Laurent Martrille
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  3. Valéry Hedouin
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Correspondence to Elodie Marchand.

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Marchand, E., Martrille, L. & Hedouin, V. Traumatic rectovaginal fistula after sexual intercourse following a non-consensual anal penetration: a case report and a review of the literature. Forensic Sci Med Pathol 17, 679–683 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12024-021-00409-6

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