Influence of synthetic mesh on ilioinguinal nerve motor conduction and chronic groin pain after inguinal herniorrhaphy: a prospective randomized clinical study.

Chronic postherniorrhaphy pain is a significant complication that can ruin a patient's quality of life. Our study aimed to assess the mesh-nerve interactions and the possible effects of this interaction on nerve morphology and function. Ilioinguinal nerve motor transmission studies using electromyelogram (EMG) were performed before the herniorrhaphy procedure, and Lichtenstein (n=50) or Shouldice (n=50) herniorrhaphies were used for repair. At the end of the first year after surgery, we found no significant differences on ilioinguinal nerve motor conduction studies between the mesh and Shouldice groups. We found a significant correlation between EMG results and inguinal pain. Our results indicates that nerve graft contact does not influence nerve motor conduction. The etiology of postherniorrhaphy chronic pain may be caused by nerve injury resulting in dissection or compression of the nerves.