Eur J Pediatr Surg 2010; 20(6): 412
DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1263196
Letter to the Editor

© Georg Thieme Verlag KG Stuttgart · New York

Safety of Botulinum Toxin for the Treatment of Children with Chronic Anal Fissure

H. Khout, N. Kadi
Further Information

Publication History

Publication Date:
21 December 2010 (online)

Dear Sir/Madam,

We read with great interest the paper by Husberg et al. [1] published in your journal on the beneficial effects of botulinum toxin in the treatment of children with chronic anal fissure.

While we would like to thank the authors for their interesting article, we believe that more studies should be carried out to ascertain that the use of botulinum toxin is safe, especially in childhood and during pregnancy. Nelson [2] concluded in 2003 in a Cochrane review of the treatment of chronic anal fissure that medical therapy for chronic and acute anal fissure in children, including the use of botulinum toxin, may be used with a chance of cure. However there is a need for long-term follow-up studies to ensure the safety of such treatment.

The current use of the toxin seems to differ with regard to injection sites and dosages, emphasizing the need for double blinded randomized large-scale clinical trials. The cost-effectiveness of botulinum toxin is an important issue with regard to the need for repeat injections.

References

  • 1 Husberg B, Malmborg P, Strigård K. Treatment with botulinum toxin in children with chronic anal fissure.  Eur J Pediatr Surg. 2009;  19 290-292
  • 2 Nelson RL. Treatment of anal fissure.  BMJ. 2003;  327 354-355

Hazem  Khout
MD, FRCS (Gen.Surg) Nourdin KadiMD, Dip (Urol), MRCS 

Queen Elizabeth Hospital

General Surgery

wendy nook

NE9 6SX Gateshead

United Kingdom

Phone: +44 797 754 1789

Fax: +44 191 445 6187

Email: hkhout@hotmail.com