title: Injections of botulinum A toxin for the treatment of anal fissures.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To find out how injections of botulinum A toxin influence the healing of anal fissures.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Medical University of Lodz, Poland.
  
  
  METHODS
  13 patients (6 women, 7 men), mean age 49 (range 31-78), treated with injections of botulinum A toxin 50 units on either side of the anal fissure into the internal anal sphincter from May to December 1999.
  
  
  METHODS
  Complications and relapse.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven fissures had healed by one month and four by two months. Two remained unhealed but asymptomatic. There was no incontinence of flatus or faeces after three months of treatment. Resting anal pressure was significantly lower in 10 of 13 patients compared with before treatment (p < 0.05). One fissure relapsed after 4 months and this patient had a successful anal stretch.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Injection of botulinum A toxin gives good results in the treatment of anal fissures.
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Colorectal Surgery, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland.
authors.forename: Radzisław
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Trzciński
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dziki
authors.forename: Marcin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tchórzewski
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003113:Colonoscopy; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004334:Drug Administration Schedule; D005260:Female; D005401:Fissure in Ano / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015552:Injections, Intralesional; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D011044:Poland; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D019274:Botulinum Toxins, Type A