Fissure Treatment
Fissures are cuts/injuries that appear on the inner lining of the anus. Fissures are sometimes painful, but are not a serious condition. In most cases, fissures disappear within a few weeks. One should consult an expert only if fissures persist for more than 5-6 weeks. Usual symptoms can be a visible tear on the outside of the anus, a lump next to the tear, severe pain especially when passing bowels, and a burning or itching sensation. A colonoscopy or anoscopy can help a proctologist to examine the area and suggest treatment methods.
Causes
- Hard and large stools
- Constipation
- Childbirth
- Inflammatory Bowel Disease
- Crohn’s disease
- Chronic Ulcerative Colitis
- STDs
- Tight Sphincter muscles
Treatment
- Use of topical medicines, nitroglycerin ointments, stool softeners, and more.
- A botox injection that paralyses the anal sphincter muscle and prevents spasms blocking the healing of anal fissures.
- Lords dilation, which relaxes the sphincter muscles and eases the discomfort.
- Lateral Internal Sphincterotomy (LIS) that is performed under general anesthesia. The hypertrophied internal anal sphincter is cut to relax and heal the fissure. This procedure helps in quick healing.
- Laser surgery, which is administered to perform internal sphincterotomy. This relaxes the sphincter muscles. With the help of a laser, the chronic fibrotic scar is removed from inside the anal lining. This is a painless procedure with rapid healing.