P102 FEMORAL NERVE PALSY POST OPEN INGUINAL HERNIA REPAIR - CASE REPORT AND LITERATURE REVIEW

Aim and Introduction “Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most common surgical procedures performed worldwide. Postoperative pain control is very important and recently nerve block has gained popularity as an alternative to opioid use. Transient femoral nerve palsy (TNFP) is a potential complication of ilioinguinal nerve block, but it is extremely rare with only a few cases reported. We discuss a case of TNFP post-left inguinal hernia repair to highlight this rare complication.” Material and Methods “Case Report: A 17-year-old male with clinically and radiologically confirmed left inguinal hernia underwent open mesh repair (Lichtenstein repair). At the end of the procedure, he had ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerve block (10ml, 0.5% bupivacaine). In the recovery room, he developed numbness of his anteromedial aspect of his left thigh with weakness of hip flexion and paralysis of quadriceps with an inability to extend his knee. He was reviewed by the anaesthetic team and was admitted overnight. His symptoms resolved spontaneously within 18 hours. He was subsequently discharged and followed up in the surgical OPD 2 weeks, 6 weeks and 6 months later and there were no residual neurological symptoms.” Results and Conclusion “TNFP post open hernia repair is very rare. Mechanisms of femoral nerve injury include suturing, stapling, scar tissue entrapment or direct compression. Careful attention is needed to the technique of local anaesthesia post-operatively (avoid deep infiltration, lowest volume and concentration used, ultrasound use) to avoid potential morbidity if this complication is not recognised.”

DIVERSE ANATOMICAL CONFIGURATION OF ILIOINGUINAL NERVE IN RELATION TO LATERAL FEMORAL CUTANEOUS NERVE: A CASE REPORT

The variability in the formation of Ilioinguinal nerve has been documented in the literature especially related to iliohypogastric nerve. But so far very few cadaveric studies have been documented on variation in the branches of ilioinguinal nerve. A case presented which demonstrates aberrancy of its anatomic position. Although the course of ilioinguinal nerve has been well known, nostudies or report have demonstrated a course in relation to lateral femoral cutaneous nerve. This case report serves as a warning to the surgeon to be aware of such bizarre presentation since the consequences of iatrogenic injury to such structures may be serious.

Chronic Post-Inguinal Herniorrhaphy Pain in a Setting in Rural Africa

Introduction: In Africa, inguinal hernia is a common surgical condition with an incidence of 175 inguinal hernias per 100,000 people each year. Pain that persists for at least a duration of 3 months postoperatively following repair of an inguinal hernia defines chronic groin pain. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence of chronic groin pain in a group of patients in a hospital setting in rural Africa. Methodology: A descriptive retrospective study was carried out between 1st April 2008 to the 31st July 2012 on all patients ≥15 years of age that underwent an inguinal hernia repair were eligible in this study. Data was retrieved from patients’ clinical notes and theatre log books on age, sex, recurrence of hernia and post-operative pain lasting at least 3 months. Data obtained in the interview questionnaire included duration of pain, pain at the operation site, type of postoperative analgesia and a physical examination to determine recurrence was performed in the surgical-out-patients clinic. Results: One hundred and fifty eight patients following repair of inguinal hernia using the modified Bassini technique were analysed. Mean age was 44.84 years. The male:female ratio was 3.65:1 with a male predominance. Chronic groin pain/discomfort was reported in 22(13.92%) and this pain/discomfort lasted for at least 3 months post-operatively. Conclusions: The low incidence of chronic groin pain in our study may be due to the majority of them being operated as elective procedures under local anaesthesia with routine identification of the ilioinguinal nerve. However, a study with a larger sample size and a longer follow up may be required to ascertain the true prevalence of chronic groin pain following inguinal hernia surgery in rural Africa.

Ilioinguinal Nerve Neurectomy is better than Preservation in Lichtenstein Hernia Repair: A Systematic Literature Review and Meta-analysis

Objective This study aimed to evaluate the incidence of chronic groin pain (primary outcome) and alterations of sensitivity (secondary outcome) after Lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair, comparing neurectomy with ilioinguinal nerve preservation surgery. Summary background data The exact cause of chronic groin postoperative pain after mesh inguinal hernia repair is usually unclear. Section of the ilioinguinal nerve (neurectomy) may reduce postoperative chronic pain. Methods We followed PRISMA guidelines to identify randomized studies reporting comparative outcomes of neurectomy versus ilioinguinal nerve preservation surgery during Lichtenstein hernia repairs. Studies were identified by searching in PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science from April 2020. The protocol for this systematic review and meta-analysis was submitted and accepted from PROSPERO: CRD420201610. Results In this systematic review and meta-analysis, 16 RCTs were included and 1550 patients were evaluated: 756 patients underwent neurectomy (neurectomy group) vs 794 patients underwent ilioinguinal nerve preservation surgery (nerve preservation group). All included studies analyzed Lichtenstein hernia repair. The majority of the new studies and data comes from a relatively narrow geographic region; other bias of this meta-analysis is the suitability of pooling data for many of these studies. A statistically significant percentage of patients with prosthetic inguinal hernia repair had reduced groin pain at 6 months after surgery at 8.94% (38/425) in the neurectomy group versus 25.11% (113/450) in the nerve preservation group [relative risk (RR) 0.39, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.28–0.54; Z = 5.60 (P < 0.00001)]. Neurectomy did not significantly increase the groin paresthesia 6 months after surgery at 8.5% (30/353) in the neurectomy group versus 4.5% (17/373) in the nerve preservation group [RR 1.62, 95% CI 0.94–2.80; Z = 1.74 (P = 0.08)]. At 12 months after surgery, there is no advantage of neurectomy over chronic groin pain; no significant differences were found in the 12-month postoperative groin pain rate at 9% (9/100) in the neurectomy group versus 17.85% (20/112) in the inguinal nerve preservation group [RR 0.50, 95% CI 0.24–1.05; Z = 1.83 (P = 0.07)]. One study (115 patients) reported data about paresthesia at 12 months after surgery (7.27%, 4/55 in neurectomy group vs. 5%, 3/60 in nerve preservation group) and results were not significantly different between the two groups [RR 1.45, 95% CI 0.34, 6.21;Z = 0.51 (P = 0.61)]. The subgroup analysis of the studies that identified the IIN showed a significant reduction of the 6th month evaluation of pain in both groups and confirmed the same trend in favor of neurectomy reported in the previous overall analysis: statistically significant reduction of pain 6 months after surgery at 3.79% (6/158) in the neurectomy group versus 14.6% (26/178) in the nerve preservation group [RR 0.28, 95% CI 0.13–0.63; Z = 3.10 (P = 0.002)]. Conclusion Ilioinguinal nerve identification in Lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair is the fundamental step to reduce or avoid postoperative pain. Prophylactic ilioinguinal nerve neurectomy seems to offer some advantages concerning pain in the first 6th month postoperative period, although it might be possible that the small number of cases contributed to the insignificancy regarding paresthesia and hypoesthesia. Nowadays, prudent surgeons should discuss with patients and their families the uncertain benefits and the potential risks of neurectomy before performing the hernioplasty.