Subcutaneous lateral internal anal sphincterotomy for anal fissure

This paper describes a method of lateral internal sphincterotomy for anal fissure entirely by palpation, a technique which gives results similar to those performed under direct vision, and is superior to posterior sphincterotomy and stretching of the sphincter. It has been employed in patients with episodic and chronic diarrhoea with equally satisfactory results. Lateral sphincterotomy preserves the external anal sphincter and it is suggested that this is the main reason for the low incidence of defects of anal continence as compared with other procedures.