Role of surgery for chronic groin pain by inguinal neurectomy

ABSTRACT

Inguinal nerve entrapment is a debilitating post operative problem. Fifty patients were treated for inguinal nerve entrapment including 26 men and 24 women with an average age of 45 +/- 14 years Most patients had inguinal hernia repairs or Pfannenstiel incisions. Mesh was found in 27% of patients. Symptoms included pain [100%] radiation of pain to the thigh and/or genital area [59%], and postural pain [59%]. Diagnosis was made by physical examination, postural maneuvering, and inguinal nerve block. Proximal nerve resection was followed by polyester ligature and absolute alcohol application to prevent neuromas. Eight percent of patients had minor complications. Total pain relief was attained in 72% of patients, partial relief in 25%, and no relief in 3%. Two patients complained of numbness postoperatively. Multifactorial analysis showed recurrent hernia repair as a significant predictive factor