Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate whether modified darn repair (MDR) is comparable to Lichtenstein procedure (LP) in the treatment of primary inguinal hernia, regarding chronic postoperative pain and recurrence.
Two hundred and twenty-seven male patients with primary inguinal hernia were randomly allocated into two groups: group I included 108 patients [mean age 37.47 +/- A 11.97 years] who were subjected to MDR and group II that included 119 patients [mean age 37.44 +/- A 11.93 years] who were subjected to LP.
Recurrence was encountered in only one case after LP. Visual Analog Scale showed significant more early and late postoperative pain after LP compared to MDR. The operative time for LP [72.99 +/- A 19.90 min] was significantly shorter compared to MDR [78.53 +/- A 12.76 min]. Both MDR and LP showed no significant differences as regards hospital stay [1.04 +/- A 0.19 days vs. 1.09 +/- A 0.28 days], time to return to domestic activity [1.18 +/- A 0.43 days vs. 1.15 +/- A 0.36 days], time to return to work activity [6.84 +/- A 1.09 vs. 6.67 +/- A 0.94 days], early and late postoperative complications.
After 1-year follow-up, MDR as a tension-free repair seems comparable to LP with less postoperative pain.