Prophylactic Ilioinguinal Neurectomy During Open Tension-Free Inguinal Hernia Repair

Prophylactic Ilioinguinal Neurectomy During Open Tension-Free Inguinal Hernia Repair for Prevention of Chronic Postoperative Pain

postoperative chronic inguinal pain is a common postoperative complication after open inguinal hernia repair.

Chronic inguinal pain is a common complication following open inguinal hernia repair. Ilioinguinal nerve entrapment is a common cause of this chronic pain which may adversely affect the patients' life. Ilioinguinal neurectomy seems to be beneficial in preventing such pain, but it carries the risk for numbness and hypoesthesia.

Inclusion Criteria:

- the study included all adult patients operated on for unilateral inguinal hernia by Lichtenstein tension-free mesh hernioplasty with or without ilioinguinal neurectomy.

Exclusion Criteria:

• patients with recurrent inguinal hernia, bilateral inguinal hernia repair, or huge inguinoscrotal hernia were excluded. Diabetic patients as well as, patients with suspected inguinal hernia recurrence at the time of the questionnaire were excluded.