What is an anal fissure?

An anal fissure is a small tear or cut in the skin lining the anal canal which can cause pain, burning and bleeding.

What are the symptoms of an anal fissure?

The typical symptoms of an anal fissure are extreme pain while passing followed by burning which may lost for few hours and red blood staining of the stools. Patients may try to avoid passing stools because of the pain.

What causes an anal fissure?

A bout of hard stools, can cause a tear in the anal lining, resulting in a fissure.

Other causes of a fissure include diarrhea and inflammation of the anorectal area. Anal fissures may be acute (recent onset) or chronic (present for a long time or recurring frequently)

What causes an anal fissure?

A bout of hard stools, can cause a tear in the anal lining, resulting in a fissure.

Other causes of a fissure include diarrhea and inflammation of the anorectal area. Anal fissures may be acute (recent onset) or chronic (present for a long time or recurring frequently).

How can a fissure be treated?

An acute fissure can be treated with medicines and diet , and majority of them will heal , if medical help is sought as soon you notice symptoms.

A chronic fissure (lasting greater than one month) may respond only temporarily or do not respond at all to medicines.

What can be done if a fissure doesn't heal?

Associated spasm (tightening) of circular ring of muscle over which fissure is situated , prevent them from healing . Other causes such as scarring , infections and some colonic diseases also prevents fissures from healing.

How such fissures are treated?

By relieving the spasm ( tightening) of the circular muscle by dividing it at one place , provides adequate rest for the fissure to heal. This is a day care procedure.

How long does the healing process take after the procedure?

Complete healing occurs in a few weeks, although pain disappears after a few days.

Will the problem return?

More than 90% of patients who require this procedure for this problem have no further trouble from fissures.