Objective To compare the clinical effect between alginate calcium dressing and radix yarn dressing after anal fistula surgery. Methods A survey of 128 patients with anal fistula from April to October 2008 were studied. Patients were divided into two groups using a simple random method: 64 cases in therapy group which were treated with alginate calcium dressing and 64 cases in control group which were treated with traditional radix yarn dressing. The difference of the wound recovery indexes between two groups was compared.Results With regard to age, gender, anal fistula type, the proportion of preoperative diabetes and the diameter of wound, there was no statistical significance between therapy group and control group (Pgt;0.05). The proportion of slight pain during dressing change in therapy group (45.32%, 29/64) was more than control group (25.00%, 16/64), which had statistical significance (Pgt;0.05). The incidence of skin allergy was significantly different between two groups (29.69% vs. 60.94%, P＜0.05). Also, the rotten tissue and the soakage disappears with a shorter period, which both had statistical significance 〔(8.60±2.37) d vs. (12.22±3.29) d， (16.96±5.83) d vs. (22.02±5.90) d〕， Plt;0.05.Conclusion With the shorten of inflammatory and increment stage of the wound recovery, alginate calcium dressing is an ideal material for the postoperative duration of surgery of anal fistula.