Comparison of rubber band ligation and injection sclerotherapy for second degree hemorrhoids

Abstract

Objective: To compare the effectiveness of rubber band ligation (RBL) and sclerotherapy injection (SI) for 2nd degree hemorrhoids.

Methodology: The study was conducted in the Department of General Surgery, Ibn-e-Siena Hospital, Multan, as a randomized controlled trial. It spanned a duration of six months following the approval of the study synopsis.The patients were randomly assigned to two groups (Group A and Group B) using the lottery method with sealed opaque envelopes. Group A consisted of patients who underwent hemorrhoidectomy using rubber band ligation, while Group B included those treated with injection sclerotherapy. All procedures were performed according to institutional protocols by consultant surgeons with a minimum of five years of post-fellowship experience.

Results: The mean age of rubber band ligation and Injection sclerotherapy was 49.95±5.38 years and 47.66±6.01 years, respectively. (p=0.781). There were 73.4% males and 26.6% females in Group rubber band ligation and 65.6% males and 34.4% females, in Group sclerotherapy. (p=0.337). There were 15.6% obese in Group rubber band ligationand 21.9% obese in Group sclerotherapy. The mean duration of symptoms of Group rubber band ligation and Group sclerotherapy was 5.37±1.13 months, respectively. (p=0.198). Efficacy for Group rubber band ligation and Group sclerotherapy was 65.6% and 81.3%, respectively. (p=0.035).

Conclusion: Rubber band ligation has been demonstrated to be superior to injection sclerotherapy in terms of effectiveness for the treatment of second-degree hemorrhoids, offering better outcomes in symptom resolution, reduced recurrence rates, and overall patient satisfaction while maintaining a minimally invasive approach with fewer complications.