Hernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery
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Randomized Controlled Trial
A pragmatic approach to cutaneous nerve division during open inguinal hernia repair.
Chronic pain following inguinal hernia repair may be related to the handling of cutaneous nerves. This study aims to investigate the frequency of cutaneous nerve division in routine practice and the effect that nerve division has on long-term pain outcomes. ⋯ The division of cutaneous nerves during inguinal hernia repair has no significant effect on postoperative pain. However, there are very few adverse outcomes, and so, a pragmatic approach of dividing nerves when they would otherwise be damaged may be appropriate.