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Health Dictionary

Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Anal fissure natural history, complications and prognosis

Introduction

Overview

Overview

The symptoms of anal fissure can develop in infants as well as in adults following episodes of severe and chronic constipationand diarrhea. If left untreated, the unhealed fissures can get complicated to chronic fissures, anal abscess, anal fistula and fecal incontinence. The prognosis is generally excellent and 90% spontaneously heal or with dietary and medical measures.

Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis

Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis

Natural History

  • The symptoms of anal fissure can develop in the childhood in children having frequent diarrhea or severe constipation.
  • In adults, severe and chronic constipation leads to increased straining efforts which ultimately leads to anal fissure.
  • If left untreated, they become chronic anal fissure which frequently have an anal tag and unhealed fissures can get complicated to anal fistula and anal abscess.

Complications

Prognosis

  • Prognosis is generally excellent and the patients with acute anal fissure is approximately 90% spontaneously heal or with dietary and medical measures.[3]
  • Fecal incontinence occurs in 56.5% of patients undergoing surgery.
References

References

  1. ↑ Fleshner PR, Schoetz DJ, Roberts PL, Murray JJ, Coller JA, Veidenheimer MC (1995). “Anal fissure in Crohn’s disease: a plea for aggressive management”. Dis. Colon Rectum. 38 (11): 1137–43. PMID 7587755.
  2. ↑ ‘https://online.epocrates.com/u/2952563/Anal+fissure’ title=Anal fissure at Epocrates Online
  3. ↑ Jonas M, Scholefield JH. Anal fissure. In: Holzheimer RG, Mannick JA, editors. Surgical Treatment: Evidence-Based and Problem-Oriented. Munich: Zuckschwerdt; 2001. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK6878/

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Amandeep Singh M.D.[2]