Botulinum might be more effective than nitroglycerine in anal fissure
Clinical Question
Is type A botulinum toxin more effective than nitroglycerine ointment in treating chronic anal fissure?Clinical Question
Bottom Line
In this study, botulinum toxin (Botox, Dysport) appeared slightly more effective than topical nitroglycerine in managing chronic anal fissures. (LOE = 2b)Bottom Line
Reference
Brisinda G, Cadeddu F, Brandara F, Marniga G, Maria G. Randomized clinical trial comparing botulinum toxin injections with 0.2 per cent nitroglycerin ointment for chronic anal fissure. Br J Surg 2007;94:162-167. [PMID:17256809]Reference
Study Design
Randomized controlled trial (single-blinded)Study Design
Funding
Unknown/not statedFunding
Allocation
ConcealedAllocation
Setting
Outpatient (specialty)Setting
Synopsis
These authors randomly assigned 100 patients with anal fissure of at least 2 months duration to receive type A botulinum (30 units Botox or 90 units Dysport; administered as 2 injections of equal volume, one on each side of the anterior midline of the internal anal sphincter) or topical nitroglycerine (2 grams of 2% nitroglycerine diluted in 100 grams of soft paraffin) applied to the anus and anal canal 3 times daily for 8 weeks. The patients, who were aware of the treatment administered, were evaluated every month by physicians unaware of the treatment. Patients who had persisting fissures after 8 weeks were offered a sphincterotomy or the alternate treatment. The authors don't describe using an intention-to-treat analysis. No patients were lost to follow-up. At the end of 8 weeks, 92% of patients treated with botulinum toxin were healed compared with 70% of those treated with nitroglycerine (number needed to treat = 5; 95% CI, 3-16). Since the lack of an intention-to-treat analysis tends to magnify treatment effects, it is possible that the real benefit may be smaller. Patients treated with botulinum were more likely to experience 3 weeks of "mild incontinence to flatus," while those treated with nitroglycerine were more likely to experience transient headaches.Synopsis
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Citation
Barry, Henry, et al., editors. "Botulinum Might Be More Effective Than Nitroglycerine in Anal Fissure." EE+ POEM Archive, John Wiley & Sons, 2019. Evidence Central, evidence.unboundmedicine.com/evidence/view/infoPOEMs/426149/all/Botulinum_might_be_more_effective_than_nitroglycerine_in_anal_fissure.
Botulinum might be more effective than nitroglycerine in anal fissure. In: Barry HH, Ebell MHM, Shaughnessy AFA, et al, eds. EE+ POEM Archive. John Wiley & Sons; 2019. https://evidence.unboundmedicine.com/evidence/view/infoPOEMs/426149/all/Botulinum_might_be_more_effective_than_nitroglycerine_in_anal_fissure. Accessed March 22, 2023.
Botulinum might be more effective than nitroglycerine in anal fissure. (2019). In Barry, H., Ebell, M. H., Shaughnessy, A. F., & Slawson, D. C. (Eds.), EE+ POEM Archive. John Wiley & Sons. https://evidence.unboundmedicine.com/evidence/view/infoPOEMs/426149/all/Botulinum_might_be_more_effective_than_nitroglycerine_in_anal_fissure
Botulinum Might Be More Effective Than Nitroglycerine in Anal Fissure [Internet]. In: Barry HH, Ebell MHM, Shaughnessy AFA, Slawson DCD, editors. EE+ POEM Archive. John Wiley & Sons; 2019. [cited 2023 March 22]. Available from: https://evidence.unboundmedicine.com/evidence/view/infoPOEMs/426149/all/Botulinum_might_be_more_effective_than_nitroglycerine_in_anal_fissure.
* Article titles in AMA citation format should be in sentence-case
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