Background: Botulinum toxin (Dysport) is a powerful semi-biological toxin. It has proved to be a remarkable therapeutic agent for treatment of benign anal disorders. Different results have been achieved from injection of botulinum toxin in order to treatment of anal fissure since 1993. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of botulinum toxin injection in the treatment of chronic anal fissure Comparing with lateral internal anal sphincterotomy (LIS).
Methods: 36 patients entered into two groups, Dysport injection and Lateral Internal Sphincterotomy, randomly. Dysport group were treated by injection of 50 units of botulinum toxin, 25 units of drugs in each side, and LIS was done in surgery group by open method in left side. Pain, recovery and incontinency were compared between two groups during six months of follow up.
Results: Based on this study, treatment of anal fissure does not affected by age and gender. Regarding to location of fissure, there was no difference between two different genders. Mean of age and ratio of gender were similar in both groups. The severity of pain in surgery group was lower than Dysport group six months after treatment (0.4±0.7 and 3.2±2.6 respectively, p<0.001). Recovery ratio in surgery group was higher than Dysport after six months (95% Vs. 44.4% p<0.001). Gas or fecal incontinency did not reported after six months in both groups.
Conclusion: Botulinum toxin is not efficacious in patients with chronic anal fissure, comparing with LIS. More future studies are necessary for final judgement.

Keywords: Anal sphincterotomy, anal fissure, botulinum toxin

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