While many acute anal fissures spontaneously heal, a proportion will become chronic if left untreated.
short term
low
Although full incontinence is unlikely after surgery, approximately 30% of patients may experience impairment of minor degrees of continence such as flatus, mucus, or liquid stool.[3]Collins EE, Lund JN. A review of chronic anal fissure management. Tech Coloproctol. 2007 Sep;11(3):209-23.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17676270?tool=bestpractice.com
[27]Nelson RL, Chattopadhyay A, Brooks W, et al. Operative procedures for fissure in ano. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2011 Nov 9;2011(11):CD002199.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7098462
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22071803?tool=bestpractice.com
[28]Casillas S, Hull TL, Zutshi M, et al. Incontinence after a lateral internal sphincterotomy: are we underestimating it? Dis Colon Rectum. 2005 Jun;48(6):1193-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15906136?tool=bestpractice.com
long term
low
Recurrence is most likely if patients stop treatment before re-epithelialization of the fissure has occurred.