Plication darn repair versus lichtensteinmesh hernioplasty for primary inguinal hernia

Abstract EN

The aim of this research is to compare two tension-free techniques of inguinal hernia repair: the plication darn repair (PDR) and Lichtenstein mesh hernioplasty (LMH), in terms of postoperative pain, complications and recurrence rates.

Sixty-seven patients with primary inguinal hernia were randomized to either plication darn repair PDR (group A) or Lichtenstein mesh hernioplasty LMH (group B) under spinal anesthesia in Aden hospitals and clinics over a period from October 2005 and September 2008.

Patients with bilateral inguinal hernias, recurrent hernias, complicated hernias and other inguinoscrotal pathologies were excluded from the study.

Follow-up was on the 7th and 12th postoperative day of the third month, and then yearly for two years.

The main outcome measures were postoperative pain, recovery, postoperative complications and recurrence.

Thirty-three patients had plication darn repair PDR (group A) while 34 patients had Lichtenstein mesh hernioplasty LMH (group B).

The mean operating time was longer for Lichtenstein mesh hernioplasty as compared to plication darn repair (70.1min vs.

62.6 min, p = 0.1).

Pain score and hospital stay was the same for both groups and return to normal activity was not significantly different, being 14.1 days for LMH and 13 days for PDR (p= 0.07).

Complication rate in group (B) was 17.6%, while in group (A) it was 3% (p=0.001).

There was no recurrence in either group after a mean follow-up of 2 years.

LMH and PDR were equivalent in terms of post-operative pain, recovery and recurrence rate.

However, the PDR was less time-consuming and has fewer postoperative complications.

Furthermore, in spite of Mesh repair for inguinal hernia is definitely the more popular version of the two but a well-constructed darn is equally effective and on the whole, a much less costly treatment option for inguinal hernias.