Ilioinguinal nerve entrapment after tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure

The anatomy of the ilioinguinal nerve makes it vulnerable to entrapment near its exit from the superficial inguinal ring, where it lies almost directly superior to the pubic tubercle. Ilioinguinal nerve entrapment is a documented complication of inguinal herniorrhaphy, inguinal lymph node dissection, appendectomy, Pfannenstiel incision and the needle suspension procedure. It has not previously been described as a complication of the tension-free vaginal tape (TVT) procedure, which is the most recent technique for the treatment of genuine urinary stress incontinence. This paper describes a clinical history to illustrate the diagnosis and management of ilioinguinal nerve entrapment occurring as a complication of tension-free vaginal tape procedure.