Hernia and abdominal wall: chronic post-herniorrhaphy groin pain: practice question

A General Surgery question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

Try it

General Surgery · Hernia and abdominal wall: chronic post-herniorrhaphy groin pain

Sample item

Six months after open mesh repair, a man has burning pain in the groin radiating to the scrotum, worse on standing. Which nerve is most commonly implicated?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

B. Ilioinguinal nerve

Chronic pain after inguinal hernia repair is due to entrapment or injury to the ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric or genitofemoral nerves. Management is analgesia and nerve blocks, with neurectomy or mesh removal for refractory cases. Identifying and preserving nerves reduces its incidence.

Option by option

  • A. Femoral nerve

    Femoral nerve supplies the thigh.

  • B. Ilioinguinal nerve (correct)

    Correct. Ilioinguinal injury is the commonest.

  • C. Obturator nerve

    Obturator nerve supplies the medial thigh.

  • D. Sciatic nerve

    Sciatic nerve is not near the groin.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

More General Surgery questions

Questions about this General Surgery question

What is the answer to this General Surgery question?

The best answer is B, Ilioinguinal nerve. Chronic pain after inguinal hernia repair is due to entrapment or injury to the ilioinguinal, iliohypogastric or genitofemoral nerves.

Why is "Femoral nerve" not the answer?

Femoral nerve supplies the thigh.

Why is "Obturator nerve" not the answer?

Obturator nerve supplies the medial thigh.

Why is "Sciatic nerve" not the answer?

Sciatic nerve is not near the groin.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Hernia and abdominal wall: chronic post-herniorrhaphy groin pain in General Surgery. Management is analgesia and nerve blocks, with neurectomy or mesh removal for refractory cases. Identifying and preserving nerves reduces its incidence.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as a multi-step question: it asks you to combine more than one idea. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Hernia and abdominal wall: chronic post-herniorrhaphy groin pain?

Learn classic signs and eponyms alongside what they diagnose. Then use the flashcards and the other General Surgery questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.