Abstract:Objective To compare the effects of subcostal nerve injury between two incision methods in retroperitoneoscopic surgery.Methods A retrospective analysis was conducted on the clinical data of 91 patients who underwent retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery in the Department of Urology of this hospital from July 2022 to June 2024. The patients were divided into group A (47 cases) and group B (44 cases) based on the different first opening methods for establishing the retroperitoneal space. In group A, the costovertebra angle was the first incision, while in group B, the midaxillary line above the iliac spine was the first incision. The patients were followed up for 6 to 24 months after the operation to observe the injury of the subcostal nerve on the surgical side, including the incidence of chronic pain, sensory numbness and abdominal wall bulge.Results The overall incidence of subcostal nerve injury in group A was 55.3% (26/47), significantly higher than 15.9% (7/44) in group B, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). Among them, the incidence of chronic pain in group A was 31.9% (15/47), which was significantly higher than 9.1% (4/44) in group B, and the difference was statistically significant (P < 0.01). There was no statistically significant difference in the side of nerve injury between the two groups of patients (P > 0.05).Conclusion When retroperitoneal laparoscopic surgery uses the costovertebra angle as the first incision, there is relatively high risk of subcostal nerve injury.