ABSTRACT
Introduction: Lateral internal sphincterotomy is an effective treatment for fissure in ano but carries a definite risk of incontinence. In trail to avoid this complication and to study the clinical outcomes such as the symptomatic relief, early postoperative wound healing, safety, and efficacy after segmental internal sphincterotomy, it was used to treat chronic anal fissure. Materials and Methods: This is hospital-based, cohort study was conducted at the NKP Salve Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Nagpur, Maharashtra, India. This study was undertaken on 62 patients (35 male and 27 female, with mean age 38 years) with chronic fissure in ano from March 2012 to March 2015. Surgical intervention, i.e., lateral internal segmental sphincterotomy done in two segments under direct vision under spinal anesthesia. Post-operative course with early and long-term result was recorded. Mean follow-up was 32 weeks (ranging from 2 to 48 weeks). Results and Discussion: In all patients, the technique was done under spinal anesthesia. The fissure and anal wound were healed within 4 weeks. The pain was reduced at postoperative day 1 in all patients. There were no early complications; one male patient had an infection at anal wound site at the 4th post-operative week which was managed conservatively. No transient or any persistent degree of incontinence occurred in these patients group. Conclusion: Segmental lateral internal sphincterotomy is a safe, easy, and effective procedure and not associated with risk of incontinence for the treatment of chronic anal fissure.