Economic claims following chronic pain after inguinal hernia repair.

Abstract

Purpose: Economic claims after surgery may be regarded as an alternative surrogate outcome for long-term deprived quality of life. This study reports economic claims of chronic pain following inguinal hernia repair.

Methods: Consecutive data on economic claims following inguinal hernia repair was collected from the nationwide Danish Patient Compensation Association. Patients' claims were stratified into three groups: 1) isolated chronic pain claims without claims of competing potential reasons for chronic pain (ICP); 2) diverse claims not involving claims of chronic pain (NCP); and 3) claims involving a combination of chronic pain and competing potential claim reasons for chronic pain (CCP).

Results: A total of 507 patients were included and 256 (50.5%) filed a claim involving chronic pain. Follow-up was 100% and median time from hernia repair to patient filing a claim in the ICP group was 1.5 years (IQR 0.6-2.6 years). ICP, NCP and CCP comprised 172 patients (33.9%), 251 patients (49.5%) and 84 patients (16.6%) respectively. Chronic pain was by far the most common claim reason (33.6% of all claim reasons). The median sum of granted compensation per patient in the ICP, NCP and CCP groups was €14,440 (IQR 7,233-100,600), €6,289 (4,024-12,094) and €7,777 (5,639-11,781) respectively.

Conclusion: Long-term chronic pain alone, not involving other complications, was by far the most common reason for seeking economic compensation. Economic compensation of isolated chronic pain (ICP) was rare, but when awarded, was substantially higher than compensation for other claims.