A randomized trial to compare rubber band ligation with phenol injection for treatment of haemorrhoids

A prospective randomized trial has compared rubber band ligation with phenol injection in 82 patients with symptomatic haemorrhoids. The symptomatic results in all patients 12 months after treatment were indistinguishable, 64 per cent being improved after rubber band ligation, compared with 70 per cent after injection. Complications of treatment were recorded in 5 patients after rubber band ligation, 3 of whom required hospital admission compared with one minor complication after infection. However, repeated treatment was necessary in 13 patients after phenol injection compared with only 4 following rubber band ligation (P less than 0.05). Additional treatment was necessary in 6 patients from each group. Two-thirds of patients with third-degree piles required additional therapy. It is concluded that rubber band ligation and injection provide similar results, but rubber band ligation is more liable to complications with inexperienced operators.