Publication:

A comparison of Lichtenstein repair versus posterior wall repair plus mesh repair for direct inguinal hernias

Background Lichtenstein’s tension free mesh repair is the most commonly performed in open inguinal hernias. The present study was done by comparing Lichtenstein Repair (LR) v/s posterior wall repair (PR)+ Lichtenstein repair (LR) of direct Inguinal Hernias to compare the technique of both surgeries and its outcome like postoperative complications and recurrence rate.

Methods This study was conducted in SNMC Agra where patients of unilateral male direct inguinal hernia were included. A total of 60 patients were taken and divided into two groups (A and B) randomly of 30 each. In group A patients were operated by LR and in group B patients were operated by PR+LR and followed up for a period of six months. The outcomes of the both techniques were compared.

Results Mean age was 48.3 years in group A and 49.5 in group B. The mean duration of surgery for group A is around 29.34 min and group B is 46.28 min which was significant. The pain was not statistically significant in both groups on day 1 and 3. There was 1 (3.3%) recurrence in group A and no recurrence in group B. Post-operative complications were similar in both groups.

Conclusions LR+PR were comparatively better than only LR in all direct inguinal hernias because of low recurrence rate (0%).