chronic anal fissure: a comparative study of medical treatment versus surgical sphincterotomy

to determine whether the medical treatment of anal fissure can be an effective alternative for surgery methods: retrospectively, we randomly selected 190 patients being treated for anal fissure between the years 2005-2010 in 3 equal groups: group a: patients who received medical treatment with topical nitroglycerin, group b: patient treated with topical diltiazem, and group c: patients underwent surgery. the results were then correlated with the statistical program spss using chi -square test. main complaints of the patients were first anal pain and then bleeding. the response to treatments for relieving pain was: 77% in a, 83% in b, and 98% in group c. response of treatments for fissure healing, in order of groups a, b and c was: 74%, 83%, and 94%. despite good response to medical treatment, surgical treatment was more effective and medical treatment of choice in patients who are willing to have surgery.