&NA;Ten extrasphincteric fistulas have been treated by the two‐stage seton procedure. The seton was leftin situfor three months; follow‐up varied from six months to 2 1/2 years. There were no recurrences. Six patients experienced slight soiling and one patient became incontinent. Provided that only muscle tissue is enclosed by the seton, the procedure gives good results; a diverting colostomy is not necessary.