title: Non-surgical treatments for anal fissure in adults.
abstract: An anal fissure is defined as a linear tear or ulcer of the anal mucosa. Patients typically describe a sharp pain 'like passing broken glass' on defaecation, followed by a burning pain in the anus lasting a few hours. Pain and bleeding during and after the passage of stool are the usual presenting features. Fissures are most common in young to middle-aged adults and are also commonly seen in pregnant and postpartum women. The lifetime incidence of anal fissure is around 11%. Here, we review the evidence on the efficacy and safety of non-surgical treatments for anal fissure.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D003672:Defecation; D005260:Female; D005401:Fissure in Ano / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D006471:Gastrointestinal Hemorrhage / Q000209:etiology*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011248:Pregnancy Complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy