ABSTRACT
The objectives of the study were to find out the frequency of anal fissures related to sex, age and to determine the treatment and complications. A retrospective study on patients from a private clinic suffering from anal fissure, during the years 2010 - 2011. Males to females difference was very small, 55.6% and 44.4% respectively. Most of them [54.8%] were in the fourth decade of life aged between 25-49 years, and [27.4%] aged 50 years or more while only [17.8%] patients were less than 25 years. The mean age was 39.6 +/- 11.8 years. Chronic constipation and vaginal delivery were the principle causes, [90.4%] and [9.6%] respectively. Anal pain [63%] and anal bleeding [37%] were the only symptoms at admission. The diagnosis was made by history and direct inspection, [75.6%] had acute anal fissure and [24.4%] had chronic anal fissure. Lateral internal sphincterotomy was the main surgical procedure used in the treatment [72.6%] of patients with acute anal fissure and [18.5%] of patients with chronic fissure. Anal dilation was done for 12 [8.9%] patients, 4 of them had acute fissure and 8 had chronic fissure. Anal dilatation was done manually [p < 0.05]. Four [3%] patients with acute anal fissures had complications of incontinence to flatus. We conclude that males were more commonly affected and the most common cause of anal fissure was chronic constipation. Majority of the patients had lateral internal sphincterotomy performed.