Anal Fissure

Treatment

Treatment for anal fissures can include self-care, medications or surgery.

As a first step, doctors generally recommend self-care measures to soften stools:

• Consuming additional liquids and fiber
• Taking stool bulking agents such as psyllium products

Anal fissures that don't respond to self-care or that have other underlying causes will be treated either by medication or surgery.

Medications

• Nitroglycerin or nifedipine paste might be prescribed to apply around the anus a few times a day to relax the muscle and increase blood flow to promote healing.
• Botox (onabotulinumtoxinA) injections may be prescribed to relax the anus.

Surgery

• Lateral internal sphincterotomy. In this common surgery, a small portion of the inner part of the sphincter muscle is cut, relaxing the anus and allowing the fissures to heal. This outpatient surgery has a small risk of gas or stool incontinence or fissure recurrence.

Read more about treatment of anal fissures on MayoClinic.com.