An anal fissure is characterized by small tear occurring between anus and anal canal in the area of mucosa. It is a thin and damp tissue having no hair and sweat glands; it rather consists of a number of somatic sensory nerves that can sense touch, light and pain. Therefore, people with anal fissure have to bear mild to severe pain depending mainly upon the size of tear.

Stretching anal mucosa beyond its actual capacity leads to fissures. Typical factors like persistent constipation, hard stools, prolonged diarrhea and anal sex cause a crack in the mucosa. Anal fissure in the aged people is caused by decreased blood-circulation to the anal. Similarly women after giving birth to child may suffer from anal fissure due to decreased blood-flow.

As far as anal fissure treatment is concerned, one should adopt both preventive and curative measures. In order to prevent from anal fissure, it is essential to consume high fibrous food, drink plenty of water daily, and dry up the anal canal with soft toilet paper after defecation. In addition to it, treating constipation and diarrhea properly help one avoid suffering from anal fissures.

The curative measures for anal fissure treatment include medication and Lateral internal sphincterotomy surgery. In medication nitroglycerin cream and natural healing oils such as coconut oil are topically massaged over the fissure. While reducing the pressure in the internal sphincter, these medications let the anal fissure heal. However, medications should be used as per doctor’s prescription in order to avoid side-effects like headache, and low blood pressure.

Some medications available in the form of pills consisting of calcium channel blockers such nifedipine and diltiazem also reduce the pressure and treat the fissure. Botox injection can also paralyze the mucosa muscle, reduce muscle tension and help the anal fissure heal.

When traditional anal fissure treatment methods yield no result and it becomes chronic and severe, the lateral internal sphincterotomy surgery remains as the last treatment option.

The basic purpose of surgery is again the reduction of pressure on anal mucosa and enhancement of blood flow. It is done by making a small cut into the internal anal sphincter to heal the anal fissure. It may be noted here that surgery does not aim at sealing the actual fissure; it rather reduces the pressure and lets the fissure heal on its own.

Both medication and Lateral internal sphincterotomy surgery are effective at their own places; the first is the best anal fissure treatment method when it is mild while the latter should be sought after provided the fissure is chronic and does not heal by traditional medicines.