Ilioinguinal Nerve Block

The ilioinguinal nerve originates from the first low back (lumbar) spinal nerve. This nerve wraps above the upper ridge of the hip bone and travels into the groin. It provides sensation to the upper inner thigh, groin, and perineum.

Patients with ilioinguinal neuralgia may experience pain in the lower portion of the abdomen and pelvis and into the groin and genitals. Ilioinguinal neuralgia is one of the most common causes of lower abdominal and pelvic pain. Its main symptoms include burning pain and numbness over the lower abdomen that radiates to the genitalia and into the inner thigh.

The ilioinguinal nerve block is used to treat groin pain, often after hernia surgery or trauma to the groin. The procedure may provide pain relief for patients with groin, hip, and lower abdominal pain and may be used repeatedly to manage chronic groin neuralgia.

Sometimes ilioinguinal and genitofemoral nerve blocks are combined to cover a broader area of the groin.

With the ilioinguinal nerve block, the physician injects an inflammation-reducing steroid mixed with local anesthetic around the ilioinguinal nerve. Image guidance with ultrasound or fluoroscopy may be used to maximize accuracy.

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