Insights to Chronic Pain in Hernia Repair: Clinicopathological Assessment of Incidence, Predictors, and Long-Term Outcomes in Tertiary Healthcare Settings

Background: Chronic pain is a known complication of hernia repair, yet little data are document its incidence or impact on the patient's quality of life. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of chronic pain after hernia repair, identify the main predictors, and assess the long-term outcomes among those patients. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was conducted from April 2023 to June 2023 on 80 hernia patients (mean age 52.3 ± 11.8 years). Chronic pain (lasting more than 3 months postoperatively) was assessed, with predictors of chronic pain and the long-term effects on recovery. This study was performed using a conventional sampling method at two tertiary care hospitals i.e. Shaikh Zayed Hospital and Akhtar Saeed Hospital in Lahore. The data were analyzed using the software SPSS version 20 via ANOVA testing (p-value<0.05 statistically significant). Results: Among the 80 patients who took part in the study, 15 (18.8%) reported chronic pain after surgery, with a mean duration of 6.2 ± 2.4 months. However, the incidence of chronic pain was significantly higher in the herniorrhaphy group (28.1%) than in the hernioplasty group (16.7%, p = 0.042). Older patients (p = 0.022), prior hernia recurrence (p = 0.017), and low preoperative serum albumin levels (<3.5g/dL, p = 0.030) were all predictors of chronic pain. Conclusion: Chronic pain after hernia repair is a major complication with a high incidence in many patients following herniorrhaphy. Important specific predictors for chronic pain include older age, recurrent hernias, and low serum albumin levels.