Chronic post hernioplasty groin pain is a significant complication following inguinal hernial repair lasting for more than three months after surgery.^[1] Routine ilioinguinal neurectomy has been proposed as a means to avoid this complication.^[2] The motive of this study was to evaluate prophylactic routine ilioinguinal nerve excision compared to nerve preservation of chronic groin pain and other sensory symptoms when performing the surgery.

Sixty patients who underwent unilateral open mesh repair of inguinal hernia were included in the study with an elective division of the ilioinguinal nerve in 30 patients (Group A) and preservation in 30 patients (Group B).  The patients were evaluated for postoperative pain, other sensory symptoms, and interference with activities of daily living after 1 month, 4 months, and 8 months of surgery by using the SF36 questionnaire.

In our study, we found that the incidence, as well as the severity of pain, is far higher in the nerve preservation study group as opposed to the neurectomy study group.

Prophylactic neurectomy can be an appropriate solution in the prevention of chronic groin pain following Lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair. Hypoesthesia is not a significant complication following ilioinguinal neurectomy and does not add much to the morbidity of the patient.There is no marked difference in the health-related quality of life in either of the study groups.

Keywords: Chronic, Groin pain, Ilioinguinal nerve, Neurectomy.

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Dr Grace Lalitha Priya Uppada

Postgraduate, Department of General Surgery, GEMS, Srikakulam