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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffAnal fissures rarely cause complications. If a fissure fails to heal, it may become chronic, which means it's present for more than six weeks. Once an anal tear occurs, it may happen again, leading to repeated injury of the tissue.
The tear occasionally may go into your internal anal sphincter, a ring of muscle that holds your anus closed except during bowel movements. A tear in the muscle usually causes the muscle to spasm, which widens the tear and hampers healing. An unhealed fissure can result in a cycle of discomfort that may require surgery to reduce the pain and repair or remove the fissure.
