Enhanced approach to treating chronic anal fissures: Fissurectomy with vertical non-full-thickness midline sphincterotomy and mucosal advancement flap

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Purpose Lateral internal sphincterotomy is a conventional surgical intervention for chronic anal fissures, yet the potential for postoperative anal incontinence underscores the need for an alternative approach. This study aimed to evaluate the outcomes of patients with chronic fissures who underwent a combination of fissurectomy, vertical non-full thickness midline sphincterotomy (VNMS), and mucosal advancement flap (MAF), as a means of mitigating the risk of incontinence. Methods This retrospective analysis included forty-six consecutive patients with chronic anal fissures, unresponsive to topical diltiazem, who underwent fissurectomy combined with VNMS and MAF between April 2018 and May 2023. Primary outcome measures encompassed fissure healing rates. Continence was assessed using the Fecal Incontinence Severity Index (FISI), and manometric assessments were conducted before the procedure and three months postoperatively. Results With a median follow-up of 27 months, there were no postoperative complications, and the overall fissure healing rate reached 96% (44/46). At three months post-procedure, FISI scores were reduced to 0, with no instances of fecal soiling. Anal resting pressure exhibited a significant reduction at 3 months [pre-op: 133 (95% CI, 128−150) vs. 3 mo: 109 (95% CI, 100−117) cm H2O; p = 0.01]. Similarly, maximum anal squeeze pressure showed a significant decrease three months post-surgery [pre-op: 317 cmH2O (95% CI, 294−380) vs. 3 mo: 291 cmH2O (95% CI, 276−359), p = 0.03]. Conclusion The combination of fissurectomy, VNMS, and MAF proved to be an effective approach for chronic anal fissures, yielding favorable medium-term outcomes without postoperative anal incontinence.