Preoperative Etanercept Before Inguinal Hernia Surgery

Brief summary (from the registry)

Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most frequently performed operations in young men. Persistent pain after inguinal surgery represents a significant cause of disability, occurring in between 15%-35% of cases. In a majority of these patients, their groin pain persisted after a previous hernia repair. The main type of chronic postsurgical pain is neuropathic, caused by injured nerves. One of the principal components in the pathophysiology of postsurgical pain is cytokines, specifically tumor necrosis factor (TNF). In animal studies, injecting TNF inhibitors before nerve injury can reduce pain behaviors and neuropathology. Finding a way to reduce the incidence of postsurgical pain after hernia repair could enhance function, and reduce the need for opioids and other analgesics. The investigators intend to conduct the first randomized, controlled study evaluating whether preemptive administration of a tumor necrosis inhibitor can reduce postoperative pain and opioid consumption after hernia repair. This is important because the degree and intensity of postsurgical pain is a major predictor for the development of chronic postsurgical pain.

Study details

Official title

A Randomized Controlled Study Evaluating Pre-operative Etanercept on the Severity of Postoperative Pain After Inguinal Hernia Surgery.

Conditions

• Inguinal Hernia
• Postoperative Pain

Interventions

• Drug: Etanercept
• Drug: Saline

Sponsor

Johns Hopkins University

Collaborators

Walter Reed Army Medical Center; John P. Murtha Neuroscience and Pain Institute

Start date

2009-01

Primary completion

2011-11

Sex

All

Age range

from 18 Years to 70 Years

Results posted

Yes, on ClinicalTrials.gov

Countries

United States

Total sites listed

1

Eligibility criteria