Abdominal cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome following totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair in a professional soccer player

Abstract This case report describes a case of persistent abdominal wall pain following totally extraperitoneal inguinal hernia repair. The patient is a high-profile soccer player. The pain was undulant, imaging studies did not reveal any specific reason, and conservative treatments failed throughout a year. Surgical exploration revealed abdominal cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome (ACNES) due to compression of fibrotic scar tissue around the suture material used for fascial closure. Surgical neurectomy provided relief of the pain. ACNES should be included within the possible causes of persistent pain after laparoscopic procedures such as inguinal hernia repairs. Lateral port entries over the rectus muscle sheath carries this risk. Chronic pain in the patient can be treated surgically with excision of the involved nerve.