Know All About Fissure Surgery

A fissure is a small cut or tear which occurs in the lining of the anus. This condition occurs majorly due to the passage of hard stools and may cause severe pain and bleeding during and after bowel movements. Though most of the fissures aren't severe and heal with time, some of them do not heal even after months. These non-healing fissures require surgery. The primary purpose of fissure surgery is to make the anal sphincter muscle relax. This helps to ease the pain and allows the fissure to heal.

There are two kinds of fissure surgery procedures. The first type involves injecting botox, or a muscle relaxer into the sphincter muscle. This botox is injected in the internal part of the sphincter muscle, making the muscle relax and thereby healing the fissure.  

Another type of fissure surgery is Sphincterotomy. In this fissure surgery procedure, the anal sphincter muscle gets a minor cut. This helps to release the tension and heal the fissure.

Before beginning these fissure surgery procedures, bowel preparation is carried out to empty the intestines of stool. These procedures are usually carried out as a day-case procedure in a hospital. So, patients need not get admitted and can go back home on the same day.

Post-surgery, this bath is recommended at least 3-4 times in a day and post every bowel movement to ease muscle spasms pain. Patients who have undergone fissure surgery are also prescribed pain relief medicines and antibiotics. It is important to complete the course of these medicines.

The recovery period varies from patient to patient. Generally a few days after the surgery, patients can resume their normal daily routine. However, complete healing would take about 6 to 10 weeks.