The role of a simple questionnaire predicting treatment success in children with ACNES

Background: Some children with chronic abdominal wall pain or groin pain do not have an inguinal hernia but suffer from anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome (ACNES). Diagnosing ACNES is challenging, especially in children as a diagnostic gold standard is lacking. A paediatric questionnaire containing 17 simple items was earlier found to discriminate between abdominal pain due or ACNES or IBS. Scores range from 0 points (ACNES very unlikely) to 17 points (ACNES very likely). The present study investigates whether this 17-item questionnaire predicted treatment success in children receiving therapy for ACNES. Methods: Children 50% less pain’ (group 2) and ‘ 0.05). Conclusions: Treatment success was attained in 78% of children undergoing surgery for ACNES. A simple questionnaire scoring items associated with abdominal pain did not predict treatment success