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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffComplications of anal fissure can include:
- Anal fissure that fails to heal. An anal fissure that doesn't heal can become chronic, meaning it lasts for more than six weeks.
- Anal fissure that recurs. If you've experienced anal fissure once, you have an increased risk of another anal fissure.
- A tear that extends to surrounding muscles. An anal fissure may extend into the ring of muscle that holds your anus closed (internal anal sphincter). This makes it more difficult for your anal fissure to heal. An unhealed fissure may trigger a cycle of discomfort that may require medications or surgery to reduce the pain and repair or remove the fissure.
References
- Gearhart SL. Diverticular disease and common anorectal disorders. In: Fauci AS, et al. Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine. 17th ed. New York, N.Y.: McGraw-Hill; 2008. http://www.accessmedicine.com/content.aspx?aID=2881328. Accessed July 28, 2010.
- Lacy BE, et al. Common anorectal disorders: Diagnosis and treatment. Current Gastroenterology Reports. 2009;11:413.
- Herzig D. Anal fissure. Surgical Clinics of North America. 2010;90:33.
- Greenwald DA. Common disorders of the anus and rectum: Hemorrhoids and fissures. American College of Gastroenterology. http://www.acg.gi.org/patients/gihealth/hemorrhoids.asp. Accessed July 28, 2010.
- Yamada T, et al. Anorectal diseases. In: Yamada T, et al. Textbook of Gastroenterology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2003. http://ovidsp.tx.ovid.com/sp-2.3.1b/ovidweb.cgi. Accessed July 28, 2010.
- Breen E, et al. Anal fissures. http://www.uptodate.com/home/index.html. Accessed July 28, 2010.
- Anal fissure. American Society of Colon & Rectal Surgeons. http://www.fascrs.org/patients/conditions/anal_fissure. Accessed July 28, 2010.
- Anal fissure. The Merck Manuals: The Merck Manual for Healthcare Professionals. http://www.merck.com/mmpe/print/sec02/ch020/ch020.html. Accessed July 28, 2010.
- Gil J, et al. Screening for the effectiveness of conservative treatment in chronic anal fissure patients using anorectal manometry. International Journal of Colorectal Disease. 2010;25:649.
- Klein MD, et al. Surgical conditions of the anus, rectum, and colon. In: Kliegman RM, et al. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 18th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/212152969-3/1032016749/1608/827.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-2450-7..50343-1--cesec13_6840. Accessed July 28, 2010.
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