Authors discuss long-term results of inguinal hernia repairs. Patients were asked to fill in a questionnaire to compare five-year outcomes after tension-free and non-mesh inguinal hernia reconstructions.
Results: the trial is based on the assessement of 155 patients' replies. Recurrence rate in tension-free (TF) cases is 3.4% (4/116), while in suture repair (non-mesh - NM) group is 12.8% (5/39). The ratios of totally symptom-free patients are 83% (97/116 - TF) and 89% (35/39 - NM). Severe chronic pain occurred in 1.7% (2/116 - TF) and 7.7% (3/39 - NM). Early return to normal activity was 34% (39/116 - TF) and 29% (11/39 - NM).
Conclusion: Based on this retrospective study Lichtenstein repair is superior to non-mesh open inguinal reconstruction, as regards recurrence rates, but chronic pain and recovery time show similar long term results in both groups, which is different from the relevant published literature.