Lateral Subcutaneous External Sphincterotomy

Lateral internal sphincterotomy, even though, the most commonly used technique in United States for the treatment of fissure-in-ano has its associated post-operative complications like incontinence of flatus or faces. A better alternative in the form of lateral subcutaneous external sphincterotomy was tried prospectively on 50 patients over a period of 2 years & 4 months in the department of General Surgery at Sher-i-Kashmir Institute of Medical Sciences- Medical College, Semina. Srinagar India. Postoperative results were excellent vis- a vis pain relief and complications. We conclude that it is a better alternative for treatment of both acute as well as chronic fissure-in-ano.