The main causes of anal fissures

Written by Deng Heng
Colorectal Surgery
Updated on March 06, 2025
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The main causes of anal fissure formation may be related to the following factors: long-term constipation and hard stools, which cause mechanical damage during defecation as the direct cause for most anal fissures. It is also related to anatomical defects. Due to the superficial layer of the external sphincter forming a weak area at the back of the anal canal, dry stools exert the greatest pressure on the weak area at the back of the anus, making it prone to tearing injuries. Additionally, infection of the anal sinuses can lead to inflammation of the anal canal, and spasms of the sphincter losing its soft characteristics is also a reason for the formation of anal fissures. Furthermore, hard and dry fecal masses passing through the anal canal can easily cause tearing injuries, possibly due to the smaller size of the patient's anus.

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Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
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How to distinguish between anal fissures and hemorrhoids

To distinguish between anal fissures and hemorrhoids, one can first differentiate based on symptoms. Anal fissures primarily cause pain during defecation and minor bleeding, with the pain typically lasting from 20 minutes to half an hour. Patients often have hard stools or constipation. In contrast, hemorrhoids primarily lead to intermittent painless rectal bleeding. The blood is bright red and usually in greater volume, often appearing in a spraying or dripping pattern after defecation. Some patients may also experience prolapsed hemorrhoids, often accompanied by a sensation of heaviness and foreign body in the anus. Further, through a digital rectal examination, an anal fissure can be identified by a palpable ulcer or crack at the posterior or anterior midline of the anus. Hemorrhoids, being soft venous clusters, can also be differentiated through this examination.

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Written by Hu Xiang Dang
Colorectal Surgery Department
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What is an anal fissure?

What is an anal fissure? In clinical practice, we often encounter patients asking this question. An anal fissure is a crack in the skin around the anal canal; simply put, it is a split in the skin at the anus. The direction of the split aligns with the direction of the anal skin's folds. Of course, not all cracks in the anal skin are called anal fissures. It is only considered an anal fissure if there is a full-thickness split in the skin at the anus. If it is a superficial skin split, it is referred to as an anal skin laceration or fissuring, such as those caused by certain anal itching diseases, which are in fact fissures in the anal skin. Anal fissures commonly occur at the “anterior and posterior midline” of the anus, which is similar to the directions of 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock as described on a clock face. Doctors often describe these as positions at 6 o'clock and 12 o'clock.

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Written by Deng Heng
Colorectal Surgery
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What department should I go to for an anal fissure?

Anal fissures should of course be treated by proctology specialists, as anal fissures are a common condition in proctology. They are small ulcers that form in the skin of the anal canal below the dentate line after it has been injured. The primary symptom is anal pain, characterized by periodic, tearing-like pain. The second symptom is rectal bleeding during bowel movements caused by wounds on the fissure. The third symptom is that due to the pain, patients might avoid defecating, leading to habitual constipation. Therefore, proctologists have a comprehensive understanding and good knowledge reserve about anal fissures, so it is recommended that patients with this condition consult the proctology department.

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Written by Yu Xu Chao
Colorectal Surgery
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Can you have intercourse during an anal fissure?

During an anal fissure, it is possible to have sexual intercourse without any impact on the fissure itself. For patients with an anal fissure, the main focus should be on maintaining smooth bowel movements and avoiding dry and hard stools to prevent irritating the wound, which can cause pain and bleeding. It is also important to avoid diarrhea, as frequent bowel movements can irritate the wound over time and worsen the fissure. Clinically, for early-stage anal fissures, conservative treatment with medications is often recommended, along with softening the stool. Commonly used medications include Dragon Balm ointment or nitroglycerin ointment. After defecation, patients can opt to use an anal wash or a potassium permanganate solution for sitz baths. However, for chronic anal fissures, it is generally advised to undergo fissure excision surgery as soon as possible, followed by regular dressing changes to promote healing of the wound. If an anal fissure is left untreated for a long time, it can lead to slight narrowing of the anal canal, which requires significant attention.

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Written by Hu Xiang Dang
Colorectal Surgery Department
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What is the best treatment for anal fissures?

How should an anal fissure be treated? It can be addressed from several aspects. First, let's talk about general treatment. What is the principle of our treatment? It is to relieve pain after bowel movements and gradually promote the healing of the fissure. However, the first step is to relieve the spasm of the sphincter, then facilitate bowel movements to interrupt the vicious cycle. But what specific measures are there? One is to take a sitz bath with traditional Chinese medicine for pain relief, such as "Shen Soup," and a 1:5000 potassium permanganate solution after defecation, maintaining local cleanliness. Then, by orally taking some laxatives or paraffin oil, feces can be softened and lubricated. Alternatively, by increasing water intake and eating more fiber-rich foods, constipation can be corrected to keep the bowels clear. In more severe cases, such as those with sphincter spasms, we can perform anal dilation under local anesthesia. By dilating the anus, the spasm of the sphincter can be relieved, and the healing of the fissure can also be promoted. However, this method has a relatively high recurrence rate, and there may also be complications such as severe bleeding, perianal abscess, and fecal incontinence. Anal dilation should be treated by a doctor, and patients should not blindly use it themselves. Of course, there is also surgical treatment. Once an anal fissure has reached a certain degree, generally a chronic anal fissure, many patients need to undergo surgical treatment. Naturally, there are several surgical methods available. We choose different surgical methods according to the condition and severity of the anal fissure. For example, if the patient has an anal fissure that presents with sentinel piles and hypertrophic anal papillae, but there is no anal stricture or internal sphincter spasm, a simple excision of the fissure can be performed. This involves removing the pathological tissue of the fissure, excising the infective anal sinus along with the hypertrophic anal papillae and sentinel piles, allowing the fissure wound to drain openly. However, if there is associated anal stricture, or there is an internal sphincter spasm, we also need to perform an internal sphincterotomy.