Evaluation of recurrent cases after the mesh plug repair for adult inguinal hernia

Abstract

We retrospectively evaluated data from 346 patients with 387 primary inguinal hernias (272 indirect hernias and 115 direct hernias) repaired by the mesh plug method between January 2000 and August 2006, to examine the characteristics of recurrence following this type of hernioplasty. The patient' ages ranged from 21 to 87 (median, 65) years, and the ratio of males to females was 315 to 31. Five recurrences were confirmed in four patients (1.3%), all of whom were male. The ages of these patients at the primary repair ranged from 61 to 77 (median, 69). The interval between the initial surgery and recurrence ranged from 10 to 78 (median, 17) months. The types of hernias at primary repair included two indirect hernias (recurrence rate, 0.7%) and three direct hernias (2.6%). Re-operative findings showed dislocation (n=2) or deformity (n=1) of the onlay patch, migration of the plug (n=1), and a combination of dislocation of the patch and migration of the plug (n=1). The recurrent lesions were repaired by the mesh plug method again (n=3) or the Lichtenstein method (n=2). The recurrence rate after the mesh plug hernioplasty in our series, although acceptable, may be further reduced by firm fixation of the plug and the onlay patch.