Annals of surgery
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The authors assessed the long-term pain relief after local nerve blocks or neurectomy in patients suffering from chronic pain because of Pfannenstiel-induced nerve entrapment. ⋯ Peripheral nerve blocking provides long-term pain reduction in some individuals. An iliohypogastric or ilioinguinal nerve neurectomy is a safe and effective procedure in most remaining patients.
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Eliminating health care disparities in the United States will require a multifaceted approach that will include increasing diversity in the health care workforce. Historically, the field of medicine, and particularly surgery, has had an incumbent that grossly misrepresents the patient population. Delineating the exact demographics of the U.S. surgical residents and faculty could provide outstanding information, yielding insight into a possible deficit that, if rectified by the medical education system, could change the face of surgery and the entire health care system. ⋯ Academic surgery is exceedingly deficient of minority residents, junior faculty, and professors. Correcting this misrepresentation would facilitate establishing a more culturally and ethnically sensitive health care environment for patients who otherwise would not seek care. Additionally, with more minority academic surgeons, there will likely be a commensurate increase in investigative studies highlighting minority specific health care needs and provide additional role models and mentors for future minority surgeons.