Inguinal herniorrhaphy is one of the most common procedures in general surgery. The estimated incidence of chronic pain post inguinal hernia repair is 5% to 50%.
Postsurgical pain often mimics neuropathic pain and may be caused by the entrapment of ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric, or genital branches of the genitofemoral nerves, suture material, staples or tacks, perineural fibrosis, prosthetic material, and iatrogenic nerve damage.
Perioperative pregabalin administration has been shown to reduce the incidence of chronic neuropathic pain after total knee arthroplasty. Because pregabalin is indicated for the treatment of neuropathic pain associated with diabetic peripheral neuropathy, postherpetic neuralgia, and fibromyalgia, and not approved for the treatment of postoperative pain (US Food and Drug Administration Investigational New Drug No. 53, 763), this study was designed to further assess the use of pregabalin in postoperative pain
