Síndrome de dolor inguinal crónico (sdic)

Abstract

Background: Chronic inguinal pain syndrome (CIPS) is a frequent complaint in patents attending to a public ambulatory surgical service. Aim: To report a descriptive observational study of CIPS. Material and Methods: Retrospective review of medical records of patients presenting with CIPS between 1999 and 2006. The symptoms and physical examination of the groin, the spine and the coxofemoral joint of these patients was evaluated. Results: CIPS was diagnosed in 150 patients aged 17 to 71 years, 87 men. They represented 14% of groin problems diagnosed in the study period. Median duration of pain was 13 (3-150) months, with remissions that lasted from weeks to months. The characteristics of pain remained constant in each remission. Pain was present during the daily activities, but it was even worse during resting periods and during night sleep, leading the patient to assume pain reducing positions. Hernia was present in 29 patients and occupied inguinal channel in three. Five patients had a history of previous hernia repair. One hundred twenty patients had spine diseases. An anesthetic blockade of the ilioinguinal nerve was performed in 37 patients with a positive response in seven. Twenty nine of 47 groin ultrasound examinations were informed as abnormal and suggestive of inguinal hernia. Surgical treatment was performed in these patients and was associated with pain abolition in 12, reduction in seven and persistence in the rest. Remaining patients were treated with spine rehabilitation. The short time follow-up of both groups was encouraging. Conclusions: Inguinal hernia and radicular pain due to spine problems are the main causes of CIPS in this series of patients.