Fissures

Fissures

Fissures are small tears in the skin or mucous membrane of the anus.These fissures can be painful and cause discomfort during or after bowel movements. Fissures occur mostly in children and middle age, but can also occur at any other age.

How do anal fissures occur?

How fissures occur is not always clear. It is thought to be due to too much tension on the anus and when this is stretched, a fissure develops. With the next, somewhat harder stool, the fissure then tears open again and so the fissure remains.

Treatment of anal fissures

Treatment of fissures is usually straightforward. This makes this condition easy to treat. There are several possible treatments for fissures:

• a cream that relaxes the cramped muscles and improves circulation. This is to be used for 6 to 12 weeks.
• Botulinum injections, which produce a temporary relaxation of the cramped muscle.
• Small, targeted incision in the mucous membrane, and part of the muscle.This widens the sphincter muscle a little, allowing the stool to pass a little and preventing the fissure from tearing open again. This operation could be done either under local anaesthetic or full anaesthetic, depending on your situation.

The effect of the treatments is usually very strong. One often has a lot less or no pain at all.

Make an appointment to treat fissures

Are you suffering from fissures? Feel free to contact our proctology department and make an appointment. Many people stay around with complaints around the anus for a long time, when there is no need.

More information on fissures

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