Prevalence of Anterior Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome in a Pediatric Population With Chronic Abdominal Pain

Abstract

ACNES is present in 1 of 8 adolescents presenting with CAP to a pediatric outpatient department of a teaching hospital. Simple physical examinational testing allows for the diagnosis. Treatments including nerve blocks or surgery are beneficial in most.

Anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome: management challenges

“…The prevalence of the syndrome ranges between 15% and 30% depending on the definition and the diagnostic criteria used 2–6. In adolescents, it is reported to be diagnosed in one out of eight cases of chronic abdominal pain 3,7. In the emergency department, the prevalence of ACNES in the patients presenting with acute abdominal pain has been reported to be 2% 4…”

Anterior rectus sheath blocks in children with abdominal wall pain due to anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome: a prospective case series of 85 children

“…Examination of the skin covering the painful area using a swab often reveals sensory alterations such as hyperalgesia, hypoesthesia, allodynia, and/or altered cool perception. Moreover, a positive Carnett's test confirms an origin in the abdominal wall . Diagnostic tests other than physical examination were hitherto not contributing to the diagnosis but may exclude an underlying visceral disease.…”

“…The incidence of ACNES in a general adult population was estimated up to 55/100 000 . Moreover, we recently found that 13% of children with chronic abdominal pain presenting to a pediatrician suffered from ACNES . The patient's history in ACNES is often nonspecific.…”

Abdominal Cutaneous Nerve Entrapment Syndrome, Case Report and Diagnostic Evaluation

“…This area is believed to be more susceptible to ischemia or to physical compression of the nerve due to the juxtaposition of the soft neurovascular bundle to the firm fibrous ring. [2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10] We present a case of ACNES seen at the Division of Neurosurgery of the Hospital Universitário Gaffrée e Guinle of the Universidade Federal do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (HUGG -UNIRIO, in the Portuguese acronym), calling attention to the clinical diagnosis, pointing out its imaging characteristics, highlighting the value of high definition linear ultrasound (HDLUS) as a valuable diagnostic method and showing that a noninvasive treatment can be effective.…”