Cause and prevention of postherniorrhaphy neuralgia: a proposed protocol for treatment.

The cause of severe and persistent neuralgia after hernia surgery is due to sensory nerve crushing. An operative technique has been described that prevents inadvertent crushing or division of the sensory nerves to the groin. With persistent postoperative pain, the offending nerve is usually difficult to identify. A protocol has been suggested to differentiate ilioinguinal from genitocrural causalgia. When the particular nerve is incriminated, its division will ordinarily cure the problem.