Surgical management of postoperative chronic inguinodynia by laparoscopic transabdominal preperitoneal approach

Surgical Treatment of Neuropathic Chronic Postherniorrhaphy Inguinal Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background/Objectives: Neuropathic chronic postherniorrhaphy inguinal pain (CPIP) is a serious adverse outcome following inguinal hernia repair surgery. The optimal surgical treatment for neuropathic CPIP remains controversial in the current literature. This systematic review aims to evaluate the effectiveness of various surgical techniques utilized to manage neuropathic CPIP. Methods: The electronic databases Medline, Embase, Web of Science, Cochrane Central, and Google Scholar were searched. Inclusion criteria were defined to select studies reporting on the efficacy of surgical interventions in patients with neuropathic CPIP. The primary outcome was postoperative pain relief, as determined by postoperative numerical or nonnumerical pain scores. Results: Ten studies met the inclusion criteria. Three surgical techniques were identified: selective neurectomy, triple neurectomy, and targeted muscle reinnervation. Proportions of good postoperative results of the surgical techniques ranged between 46 and 88 percent. Overall, the surgical treatment of neuropathic CPIP achieved a good postoperative result in 68 percent (95% CI, 49 to 82%) of neuropathic CPIP patients (n = 244), with targeted muscle reinnervation yielding the highest proportion of good postoperative results. Conclusions: The surgical treatment of neuropathic CPIP is generally considered safe and has demonstrated effective pain relief across various surgical techniques. Targeted muscle reinnervation exhibits considerable potential for surpassing current success rates in inguinal hernia repair surgery.

Inguinodynia: review of predisposing factors and management

Herniorrhaphy is one of the most common surgical procedures, with an estimated 20 million operations performed annually worldwide. One of the common complications associated with this procedure is inguinodynia, defined as pain beyond three months after inguinal hernia surgery. In this review, we have addressed the main aspects of this complication with current articles, published in the last five years. Inguinodynia has a multifactorial nature and studies have shown that its development is related to the surgical technique and intrinsic factors of the patient that imply greater predisposition to this phenomenon. In this regard, it has been discussed which surgical techniques imply a lower incidence of this complication. Many studies have focused on understanding intrinsic features of each patient, both in physical and cognitive aspects, and how the approach of these factors can favor a better post-surgical recovery. The treatment of this condition is still challenging, and there are no established universal guidelines. We believe that due to its multifactorial nature, the treatment is hampered due to the individuality inguinodynia presentations.

A study to improve identification of the retroperitoneal course of iliohypogastric, ilioinguinal, femorocutaneous and genitofemoral nerves during laparoscopic triple neurectomy

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic triple neurectomy is an available treatment option for chronic groin pain, but a poor working knowledge of the retroperitoneal neuroanatomy makes it an unsafe technique.

OBJECT

Describe the retroperitoneal course of iliohypogastric, ilioinguinal, lateral femoral cutaneous and genitofemoral nerves, to guide the surgeon who operates in this region.

METHODS

Fifty adult cadavers were dissected resulting in 100 anatomic specimens. Additionally, 30 patients were operated for refractory chronic inguinal pain, using laparoscopic triple neurectomy. All operations and dissections were photographed. Measurements were made between the nerves of the lumbar plexus and various landmarks: interneural distances in a vertical midline plane, posterior or anterior iliac spine and branch presentation model.

RESULTS

The ilioinguinal and iliohypogastric nerves were independent in 78% (Type II) and separated by an average of 2.5 ± 0.8 cm. In surgery study, only 38% were recognized as Type II and at a significantly greater distance (3.5 ± 1.2 cm, p < 0.001). The distance between ilioinguinal and lateral femoral cutaneous nerves was also greater during surgery, with statistical significance (5.1 ± 1.5 versus 4.2 ± 1.5, p < 0.005). The distance of the nerves to their bone references were not statistically different. The genitofemoral nerve emerged from the psoas major muscle in 20% as two separate branches (Type II), regardless of the study. The lateral femoral cutaneous nerve had a mean distance of 0.98 ± 1.6 cm medial to the anterior superior iliac spine.

CONCLUSION

The identification of the IH, II, FC and GF nerves is essential to reduce the rate of failures in the treatment of CGP. The frequent anatomical variations of the lumbar plexus nerves make knowledge of their courses in the retroperitoneal space essential to ensure safe surgery. The location of the nerves in the LTN is distorted by up to 1 cm. regarding references in the cadavers.

Laparoscopic approach for the treatment of chronic groin pain after inguinal hernia repair : Laparoscopic approach for inguinodynia

BACKGROUND

Traditional methods of clinical research may not be adequate to improve the value of care for patients with complex medical problems such as chronic pain after inguinal hernia repair. This problem is very complex with many potential factors contributing to the development of this complication.

METHODS

We have implemented a clinical quality improvement (CQI) effort in an attempt to better measure and improve outcomes for patients suffering with chronic groin pain (inguinodynia) after inguinal hernia repair. Between April 2011 and June 2016, there were 93 patients who underwent 94 operations in an attempt to relieve pain (1 patient had two separate unilateral procedures). Patients who had prior laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (26) had their procedure completed laparoscopically. Patients who had open inguinal hernia repair (68) had a combination of a laparoscopic and open procedure in an attempt to relieve pain. Initiatives to attempt to improve measurement and outcomes during this period included the administration of pre-operative bilateral transversus abdominis plane and intra-operative inguinal nerve blocks using long-acting local anesthetic as a part of a multimodal regimen, the introduction of a low pressure pneumoperitoneum system, and the expansion of a pre-operative questionnaire to assess emotional health pre-operatively.

RESULTS

The results included the assessment of how much improvement was achieved after recovery from the operation. Forty-five patients (48%) reported significant improvement, 39 patients (41%) reported moderate improvement, and 10 patients (11%) reported little or no improvement. There were 3 (3%) complications, 13 (11%) hernia recurrences, and 15 patients (13%) developed a new pain in the inguinal region after the initial pain had resolved.

CONCLUSIONS

The principles of CQI can be applied to a group of patients suffering from chronic pain after inguinal hernia repair. Based on these results additional process improvement ideas will be implemented in an attempt to improve outcomes.

Efficacy of retroperitoneal triple neurectomy for refractory neuropathic inguinodynia

BACKGROUND

Refractory neuropathic inguinodynia following inguinal herniorrhaphy is a common and debilitating complication. This prospective study evaluated long-term outcomes associated with laparoscopic retroperitoneal triple neurectomy.

METHODS

Sixty-two consecutive patients (51 male; mean age, 47); all failing pain management; prior reoperation in 35, prior neurectomy in 26; average follow-up 681 days (range: 90 days to 3 years). Measured outcomes include numeric pain ratings, dermatomal mapping, histologic confirmation, quantitative sensory testing, complications, narcotic usage, and activity level.

RESULTS

Mean numerical pain scores were significantly decreased (baseline, 8.6) at all postoperative time points (POD 1, 3.6; P < .001: POD 90, 2.3, P < .001) with durable efficacy from POD 90 to 3 years (P < .001). Quantitative sensory testing showed marked group-level increases of sensory thresholds. Narcotic dependence decreased in 57/62 and was eliminated in 44/62 and activity level improved in 58/62.

CONCLUSIONS

Retroperitoneal triple neurectomy is an effective and durable treatment for refractory neuropathic inguinodynia.