Publication:

Prophylactic ilioinguinal neurectomy in open inguinal hernia repair: a randomized control trial

Background Inguinal neuralgia is one of the important complications of hernia repair which occurs due to entrapment, neuroma or fibrotic reactions involving the ilioinguinal nerve. Hence the excision of ilioinguinal nerve should theoretically eliminate the possibility of inguinal neuralgia. But routine ilioinguinal neurectomy is still controversial and is not widely accepted. Hence a study was conducted to evaluate the effect of prophylactic ilioinguinal neurectomy in open inguinal hernia repair.

Methods A prospective study was conducted in the General Surgery Department in a tertiary center for a period of 20 months, from December 2011 to July 2013. The patients were randomly allocated to either group A or group B by block randomized technique. Group ‘A’ patients underwent neurectomy of ilioinguinal nerve whereas the ilioinguinal nerve in group ‘B’ patients was safeguarded.

Results A total of 60 patients were studied with 30 patients each in group A and group B. During vigorous activities, more group B patients had pain compared to group A patients at 4-month [15 (50%) vs. five (17%); p=0.006; Chi-square test] and 8-month follow-up [15 (50%) vs. five (17%); p=0.006; Chi-square test].

Conclusions Inguinal neuralgia is a significant and debilitating complication following hernia repair. The prophylactic neurectomy can be an appropriate solution in the prevention of chronic groin pain following inguinal hernia repair and can be considered as an ideal inclusion into the standard hernia repair procedures.