Transabdominal laparoscopic retroperitoneal neurectomy for chronic pain after inguinal hernia repair and appendicectomy –a matched-pair study

BACKGROUND Chronic debilitating pain is a rare but significant cause of postoperative morbidity after inguinal surgery. Such pain is usually of neuropathic origin and frequently caused by intraoperative nerve damage. In this retrospective matched-pair study we analysed results of a minimal-invasive approach to neurectomy on quality of life and pain relief. METHODS From March 2010 to January 2012, 9 patients developing chronic neuropathic pain after inguinal hernia repair (8 patients) or open appendicectomy (one patient) were operated using a laparoscopic transabdominal approach in our department. Clinical examinations and specific questionnaires on pain and quality of life (PainDetect, SF-36) were completed 6 months to 3 years after neurectomy. Every patient was matched with one patient without chronic pain. RESULTS Seven of nine patients had severe or very severe pain before neurectomy, two had mild pain but refused a conservative treatment. Four patients were free of pain after neurectomy, three described an improved pain status, whereas two did not observe any change in pain. Within a follow-up period of 14,3 months, no deterioration of pain or other complications were observed. Patients who underwent neurectomy had significantly lower quality of life compared to the control group. No postoperative complications were observed. CONCLUSIONS Laparoscopic transabdominal neurectomy represents a possible surgical approach in treating patients with chronic disabling postoperative groin pain requiring surgery. This technique was feasible, safe, and effective in our series to relieve chronic debilitating pain in the majority of our patients with comparable results to other published approaches.