Ultrasound-Guided Microwave Ablation for the Management of Inguinal Neuralgia: A Preliminary Study with 1-Year Follow-up

Purpose: To evaluate the feasibility and efficacy of ultrasound-guided microwave ablation for the treatment of inguinal neuralgia. Materials and Methods: A retrospective review of 12 consecutive ultrasound-guided microwave ablation procedures was performed of 10 consecutive patients (8 men, 2 women; mean age, 41 years [range, 15–64 years]), between August 2012 and August 2016. Inclusion criteria for inguinal neuralgia included clinical diagnosis of chronic inguinal pain (average, 17.3 months [range, 6–46 months]) refractory to conservative treatment and a positive nerve block. Pain response—reduction of pain level and duration and percent pain reduction using a 10-point visual analog scale (VAS) at baseline and up to 12 months after the procedure—was measured. Nine patients had pain after the inguinal hernia repair, and 1 patient had pain from the femoral artery bypass procedure. The microwave ablation procedure targeted the ilioinguinal nerve in 7 cases, the genitofemoral nerve in 4 cases, and the iliohypogastric nerve in 1 case. Results: Average baseline VAS pain score was 6.1 (standard deviation, 2.5). Improved pain levels immediately after the procedure and at 1, 6, and 12 months were statistically significant (P =.0037,.0037,.0038,.0058, respectively). Also, 91.7% (11/12) of the procedures resulted in immediate pain relief and at 1 month and 6 months. At 12 months, 83.3% (10/12) of patients had an average of 69% ± 31% pain reduction. Percent maximal pain reduction was 93% ± 14% (60%–100%), and the average duration of clinically significant pain reduction was 10.5 months (range, 0–12 months.). No complications or adverse outcomes occurred. Conclusions: Ultrasound-guided microwave ablation is an effective technique for the treatment of inguinal neuralgia after herniorrhaphy.