Is young age a risk factor for chronic postoperative inguinal pain after endoscopic totally extraperitoneal (TEP) repair?

Purpose A generally known risk factor for developing chronic postoperative inguinal pain after inguinal hernia repair is young age. However, studies discussing young age as a risk factor are mainly based on open repairs. The aim of this study was to determine if young adults (age 18-30) are also more prone to experience chronic postoperative inguinal pain after totally extraperitoneal (TEP) inguinal hernia repair, compared to older adults (age >= 31). Methods A prospective study was conducted in a high-volume TEP hernia clinic in 919 patients. Patients were assessed using the Numeric (Pain) Rating Scale, Inguinal Pain Questionnaire and Carolina Comfort Scale preoperatively, at 3 months, 1 year and 2 years after TEP mesh repair. The primary outcome was clinically relevant pain in young adults compared to older adults at 3 months follow-up. Secondary outcomes were pain 1 and 2 years postoperatively, the impact of pain on daily living, foreign body feeling and testicular pain. Furthermore, age categories were analyzed to determine potential age-dependent risk factors. Results Follow-up was completed in 867 patients. No significant difference was found between young adults and older adults for clinically relevant pain at 3 months follow-up (p = 0.723). At all follow-up time points, no significant differences were found for clinically relevant pain, any pain, mean pain scores, the Inguinal Pain Questionnaire and the Carolina Comfort Scale. The subgroup analyses showed no age-dependent risk factor. Conclusions Young age is not associated with a higher risk of chronic postoperative inguinal pain after endoscopic TEP hernia repair.