• K J Dickinson, M Thomas, A S Fawole, P J Lyndon, and C M White.
• Department of Surgery, Dewsbury and District Hospital, Halifax Road, Dewsbury, WF13 4HS, UK. kdickinson0@hotmail.com
• Hernia. 2008 Dec 1;12(6):597-601.

BackgroundChronic post-operative pain (CPP) following laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair (LIHR) may cause significant morbidity and be more problematic than recurrence. Determining pre-operative risk may reduce morbidity. Our aim was to determine prevalence of CPP following LIHR and identify risk factors for its development.MethodsData from patients undergoing LIHR (1996-2004) at one District General Hospital were collected, including demographics, body mass index, pre-operative pain, LIHR type (TEP or TAPP, primary/recurrent, unilateral/bilateral) and post-operative complications including CPP (pain lasting > or = 1 year).ResultsA total of 881 patients underwent LIHR (1,029 hernias). Of these, 523 (60%) patients completed the questionnaire, and 72/523 (13.8%) patients experienced CPP. Presence of pre-operative pain (P < 0.001), recurrent LIHR (P = 0.021) and age < 50 years (P < 0.001) were significantly correlated with CPP.ConclusionChronic post-operative pain following LIHR is more prevalent than recurrence. Pre-operative pain, surgery for recurrent inguinal hernias (following anterior repair) and younger age at surgery predict development of CPP. Identification of 'high-risk' patients may improve management, reducing morbidity and cost.

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