Is chronic post-herniorrhaphy pain always chronic? A literature review

INTRODUCTION: Chronic post-surgery pain (CPSP) has gained increased recognition as a major factor influencing health-related quality-of-life following most surgical procedures, in particular following surgery for benign conditions. The natural course of CPSP, however, is not well-known. METHODS: A literature review was undertaken, searching for studies with repeated estimates of post-herniorrhaphy pain. The hypothetical halvation time was calculated from the repeat estimates. RESULTS: Eight studies fulfilling the criteria were identified. With one exception, the extrapolated halvation times ranged from 1.3 to 9.2 years. DISCUSSION: Even if CPSP is generally very treatment-resistant, in many cases it eventually dissipates with time. Further studies are required to evaluate the prevalence of pain beyond the first decade.