Anal Fissure and Anal Stenosis

Abstract

While fissuring is a common anal disorder, typically treated medically in its acute phase, patients with chronic fissure often require operative intervention. While sphincterotomy is highly effective at curing chronic fissures, the risk to function must be carefully assessed in each patient as some patients will benefit from muscle-sparing treatment. Anal stenosis, a potentially debilitating complication most commonly due to hemorrhoidectomy, can be avoided in most patients by adhering to proper anal surgery techniques. Patients who require operative intervention for stenosis may undergo a variety of anoplasty procedures.