COMPARISION OF POST OPERATIVE CHRONIC PAIN AFTER EXCISION OF ILIOINGUINAL NERVE IN LICHTENSTEIN’S HERNIOPLASTY

Excision of Ilioinguinal Nerve in Lichtenstein’s Hernioplasty

Abstract

Objective: To provide a comparative analysis of mean post-operative pain score after preservation and elective excision of ilioinguinal nerve (IIN) using standard Lichtenstein hernia repair (LHR) technique.
Study Design: Randomized controlled trial.
Place and Duration of Study: Department of Surgery Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Rawalpindi/
Peshawar, from 15 May 2013 to 15 May 2014.
Materials and Methods: One hundred and fifty patients with diagnosis of inguinal hernia satisfying
inclusion/exclusion criteria were included. Patients were divided into two groups randomly. In group A, IIN was carefully protected while excision were done in group B. Demographic as well as data concerning groin pain at 03 months post operatively were collected and analyzed using SPSS.
Results: A total of 150 patients were included. Mean age in group A was 37.32 ± 10.45 years while in group B was 36.56 ± 10.26 years (p=0.653). Majority of the patients in both groups were male {group A 89.33% (67), 92% (69) in group-B}, while female constituted only minority {8 (10.67%) in group A and 6 (8%) group-B}, the difference being statistically insignificant (p=0.571). Majority of the patients had indirect hernia and mean operation time was similar in both groups. Mean postoperative pain score was 3.76 ± 1.11 and 2.82 ± 0.677 in group A and B respectively, the difference being statistically significant (p<0.001).
Conclusion: Mean post-operative pain score is higher in preservation techniques compared to elective excision of IIN for the treatment of inguinal hernia.