Lateral internal sphincterotomy is useful for:September 2007: (A) Anal fistula, (B) Anal canal strictures, (C) Haemorrhoids, (D) Anal fissure
Answer is D. Ans. D: Anal fissureLateral internal sphincterotomy is the preferred method of surgery for persons with chronic anal fissures, and is generally used when medical therapy has failed.It is associated with a lower rate of side effects than older techniques such as posterior internal sphincterotomy and anoplasty, and has also been shown to be superior to topical glyceryl trinitrate (GTN 0.2% ointment) in long term healing of fissures, with no difference in fecal continence.