Inguinal neuritis is common in primary inguinal hernia

Establishing the existence of inguinal neuritis, and defining patterns of nerve involvement in primary inguinal hernia repair.

A retrospective chart review of 100 consecutive primary inguinal hernia repairs by Lichtenstein technique with frequent ilioinguinal nerve removal was performed. Nerves suspected of containing neuritis had been sent for histological examination. Objective clinical parameters and nerve pathology reports were reviewed. An independent biostatistician reviewed the data.

There were 34 cases of inguinal neuritis in these primary inguinal hernia repairs. The nerve most affected in primary repairs was the ilioinguinal nerve, accounting for 88% of the neuritis cases. Inguinal neuritis occurred mainly at the external oblique neuroperforatum-where the nerve pierces the external oblique fascia, accounting for 83% in primary repair. The only clinical parameter with statistical significance was hernia laterality (P = 0.04), 46% of the patients who had a hernia on the left also had inguinal neuritis.

The overall incidence of inguinal neuritis was 34% in primary inguinal hernia repairs. The ilioinguinal nerve was most commonly affected in these primary inguinal hernia repairs, and inguinal neuritis was most likely to occur at the external oblique neuroperforatum.