Treatment strategies for anterior cutaneous nerve entrapment syndrome in children: A systematic review

This systematic review of 224 pediatric ACNES patients demonstrates that a step-up treatment approach is most effective: starting with trigger point injections (38-87% success) and reserving anterior neurectomy for refractory cases (86-100% success). The evidence supports conservative management first, with surgery as a reliable second-line option for this frequently missed cause of chronic abdominal pain in children.