Anal Fissures, also known as fissures, are tears in the anal canal. Fissures are responsible for about 15% of visits to a colorectal surgeon and can affect all ages. These anal canal tears can cause extreme pain while having a bowel movement. Fortunately with the expert help of the colorectal surgeons at the Fissure & Fistula Center of Excellence in Los Angeles individualized plans, both surgical and non-surgical, so that the best anal fissure treatment modalities can be formulated.
The world-renowned experts treat a variety of conditions including anal fissures, fistulas, abscesses, and other conditions. Patients will receive unmatched quality of patient care and service from the knowledgeable helpful staff and the latest innovative treatments for their individual conditions. For more information, contact the Fissure & Fistula Center of Excellence today at (888) 512-2312.
Anal Fissure Symptoms
- Some of the symptoms you may be suffering from an anal fissure are:
- Painful bowel movements
- Blood on toilet paper after a bowel movement
- Blood in the toilet after a bowel movement
- Cracking around the skin of the anus
If you are having painful bowel movements you should immediately make an appointment with one of our experienced colorectal doctors.
What Causes Anal Fissures?
A variety of things can cause an anal fissure but some of the more common causes include:
- Passage of large stool
- Low fiber diet
- Following constipation and passage of a large hard stool
- Chronic diarrhea
- Medical conditions such as Crohn’s disease or Ulcerative Colitis
- Childbirth
- Digital insertion, or insertion of a foreign object
Nonsurgical Treatments for Fissures
Often anal fissures may heal on their own, but patients must keep their stools soft and avoid constipation. To aid your body in healing, exercise regularly, ingesting a high fiber diet, drink plenty of water, and avoid straining during bowel movements.
Some other non-surgical options include:
- Topical treatments, including ointments and creams placed on the area to help in healing.
- Nitroglycerin can be applied to the area that increases blood flow and relaxes the external sphincter.
- Calcium channel blockers also decrease the resting anal pressure.
- Steroid creams have been shown to help relieve discomfort.
- Botox injections have been used to paralyze spastic sphincter muscles, thus allowing them to relax and heal. Side effects, although rare, are transient and will resolve in 2 months: urinary retention, gas/fecal incontinence, bleeding, and muscle weakness.
Surgical Treatments for Fissures
When conservative methods of treatment fail then anal fissure repair surgery available and offered by the expert colorectal surgeons at The Fissure and Fistula Center of Excellence including:
- Lateral Internal Sphincterotomy is an operation performed on the internal anal sphincter muscle in which a small incision in the internal anal sphincter decreases the resting anal pressure and allows a fissure to heal. The Lateral Internal Sphincterotomy is one of the best long-term treatment options available for anal fissures. Most patients return to normal activity within a week.
- Dermal Flap Coverage, also known as an anal advancement flap, is when the skin is draped over the anus to cover the fissure. It is a good alternative to the Lateral Internal Sphincterotomy for those with an increased risk of fecal incontinence.
- Anal Dilation (Lord’s Operation) is an older method of treating anal fissures that is no longer popular due to fecal incontinence complications.
Seek Anal Fissure Treatment in Los Angeles
Our Los Angeles fissure surgeons are experts in the surgical and non-surgical treatment of diseases of the colon, rectum and anus and have completed advanced surgical training in the treatment of these diseases as well as full general surgical training. Our fissure surgeons are well versed in the treatment of both benign and malignant diseases of the colon, rectum and anus and are able to perform routine screening examinations as well as cutting-edge surgical treatments.
For more information or to schedule an appointment for the best anal fissure treatment in Los Angeles, please contact our Beverly Hills office at (888) 512-2312 or fill out our online contact form
