Sclerotherapy for the treatment of fissure in ano.

Sclerotherapy has a useful part in the conservative management of anal fissure. When compared with results obtained with routine forms of local treatment, it leads to a higher incidence of successful outcome and reduced number of patients coming to operation. The complication rate was almost nonexistent and in no instance led to any permanent effects. It is an outpatient procedure and can be done with a minimum amount of equipment, technical skill and expertise, resulting in immediate relief. It does not lead to accelerated healing; this is of no consequence since the patient is asymptomatic. We recommend this procedure for acute anal fissures which cause moderate to marked symptoms, particularly when other conservative methods have failed.