Endoscopic retroperitoneal neurectomy for chronic pain after groin surgery.
BACKGROUND
Chronic postoperative pain after inguinal surgery remains a difficult problem. The role of minimally invasive surgery in this complex setting is still unexplored.


METHODS
Between January 1997 and January 2007, 34 men and five women with a mean(s.d.) age of 47(16) years underwent endoscopic retroperitoneal neurectomy (ERN) for chronic neuropathic groin pain due to genitofemoral nerve with or without ilioinguinal nerve entrapment. Follow-up data were obtained 1 and 12 months after surgery.


RESULTS
At both timepoints after ERN, the severity of chronic postoperative groin pain at rest and during daily activities, and the rate of occupational disability, were significantly decreased in 27 of the 39 patients compared with preoperative values (all P < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
ERN for chronic postoperative genitofemoral nerve entrapment neuropathy was successful in the majority of patients selected for the procedure. This minimally invasive approach allows simultaneous neurectomy of genitofemoral and ilioinguinal nerves.
Giger
U
U
Department of Visceral Surgery, Lindenhof Hospital Berne, Berne, Switzerland.
Wente
M N
MN
Büchler
M W
MW
Krähenbühl
S
S
Lerut
J
J
Krähenbühl
L
L
D002908:Chronic Disease; D004724:Endoscopy; D005260:Female; D006119:Groin / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D007902:Length of Stay; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009408:Nerve Compression Syndromes / Q000601:surgery*; D009437:Neuralgia / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000601:surgery*