title: Lateral subcutaneous internal sphincterotomy in the treatment of chronic anal fissure: our experience.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic anal fissure is the most common cause of anal pain associated with internal anal sphincter hypertonia. Reduction of hypertonia favours fissure healing. Temporary reduction in sphincter tone can be achieved by conservative treatment. Surgical sphincterotomy achieves permanent reduction of sphincter hypertonia and is very successful at healing anal fissures, but requires an operation with associated small morbidity.
  
  
  METHODS
  A study was undertaken on 246 patients (120 men, 126 women, mean age 48.3 years), undergoing subcutaneous lateral internal sphincterotomy for a chronic fissure-in-ano from January 1, 1981 to December 31, 2004. Therapeutical outcome, postoperative course and early and long-term results were recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the study period, the 246 patients underwent total subcutaneous lateral internal sphincterotomy, 62 of them under general anesthesia (1981-1991), and the remainder under local anesthesia. Two-hundred-forty-two patients returned for their postoperative visits at 2, 6, 24 and 48 weeks, while four patients were lost to follow-up. At 3 months postoperatively, 97.5% of fissures had healed; 224 fissures were healed by 6 weeks, 10 by 7 weeks and 2 by 3 months. Pain was significantly reduced in all patients at Day 1 postoperative. Minor complications included hematoma (0.8%) and pain (0.4%). New minor incontinence was seen in 7.02% of patients at 48-week follow up. Patients' satisfaction was 91.7%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Total subcutaneous internal sphincterotomy is a safe and effective treatment for chronic anal fissures, that only rarely impairs continence to flatus.
authors.affiliation: 1st Department of Surgery, University General Hospital, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Liratzopoulos
authors.forename: Eleni I
authors.initials: EI
authors.lastname: Efremidou
authors.forename: Michael S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Papageorgiou
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kouklakis
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moschos
authors.forename: Konstantinos J
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Manolas
authors.forename: George J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Minopoulos
mesh_terms: D002908:Chronic Disease; D013505:Digestive System Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000379:methods; D005242:Fecal Incontinence / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D005401:Fissure in Ano / Q000601:surgery*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016896:Treatment Outcome