<prompt> Lateral internal sphincterotomy is useful for:September 2007Anal fistulaAnal canal stricturesHaemorrhoidsAnal fissure  <response>: Ans. D: Anal fissureLateral internal sphincterotomy is the preferred method of surgery for persons with chronic anal fissures, and is generally used when medical therapy has failed.It is associated with a lower rate of side effects than older techniques such as posterior internal sphincterotomy and anoplasty, and has also been shown to be superior to topical glyceryl trinitrate GTN 0.2 ointment in long term healing of fissures, with no difference in fecal continence. 