Background: Chronic pain is a severe complication of mesh-based inguinal hernia repair. Its perceived risk varies widely in the literature. The current objectives are to review the incidence, severity, and consequences of chronic pain and its etiologies.
Data sources: A multi-database systematic search was conducted for prospective trials on mesh-based inguinal hernia repair reporting the measurement and outcome of pain at least 3 months postoperatively with a minimum follow-up of 80%.
Conclusions: After mesh-based inguinal hernia repair, 11% of patients suffer chronic pain. More than a quarter of these patients have moderate to severe pain, mostly with a neuropathic origin. As a consequence of chronic pain, almost one third of patients have limitations in daily leisure activities. Chronic pain is less frequent after endoscopic repair and with the use of a light-weighted mesh.