SummaryThe e[/ect of,free:ing the ilioinguinal nerve on postoperative pain relief was examined in a double blind study in 36 patients undergoing herniorrhaphv. randomly allocared into two groups. Patients in the experimental group had their ilioinguinal nerves .fro:en during .surgery and were compared with the patients in rhe control group who did nor huve cryoanalgesia. Pain relief was assessed overa 48-hour period in three ways, namely the linear analogue pain scale, peak espiratory ~7 o w rates and the amounr of analgesic drugs required by patients in the two groups. We conclude that cryoanalgesia of rhe ilioinguinal nerve alone does not produce significant early post herniorrhaphy pain relief.