Over the long haul any procedure that messes with the sphincter is probably going to put a person at increased risk for incontinence as compared with someone who hasn't had a procedure. The same can be said for complex obstetrical cases as well. This study seems to confirm this, in which the conclusion is the following regaring LIS... "Fecal incontinence may present as a late complication of anal fissure surgery. Incontinence may be associated with other cofactors accumulating over time or, more likely, anal fissure surgery may accelerate the physiologic age-related weakening of the anal sphincter mechanism. Candidates for anal fissure surgery should be informed regarding this possible outcome." source:
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21805112It doesn't mean we who suffer with fissures shouldn't have treatment for it, obviously, but it would be nice to have more choices, such as dilation. And currently doctors are so biased toward LIS over dilation, when LIS actually has a higher risk profile associated with it when it comes to immediate post surgical complications. It doesnt mean LIS is a bad procedure, but currently it is impossible to find dilation as a treatment anywhere at all in the US, other than at a couple of locations, which is really a shame. We need more options for this complex and highly individual problem, not fewer ones.