RESUMEN
BACKGROUND: There is still controversy surrounding routine ilioinguinal neurectomy in open tension-free inguinal hernia repair. METHOD: PubMed, Cochrane Library and EMBASE databases were searched for randomized controlled trials of ilioinguinal neurectomy in open tension-free inguinal hernia repair. Revman 5.3 software was used for meta-analysis. RESULT: Meta-analysis revealed that the incidence of severe pain on the first postoperative day was lower in the ilioinguinal neurectomy group (ING) than in the ilioinguinal nerve preservation group (INPG) [P < 0.0001]. The incidence of no pain in the first month postoperatively [P = 0.0004], the incidence of no pain in the sixth months postoperatively [P < 0.00001], and the numbness incidence in the first month postoperatively [P = 0.001] in the ING was higher than that in the INPG. There was no significant difference in the incidence of severe pain in the first month postoperatively [P = 0.20], the numbness incidence in the sixth postoperative month [P = 0.05], the hypoesthesia incidence in the first [P = 0.15] and sixth [P = 0.85] postoperative months between the two groups. CONCLUSION: Ilioinguinal neurectomy in open tension-free inguinal hernia repair can better prevent postoperative pain.