Background
Open mesh or non-mesh inguinal hernia repair may influence the incidence of chronic
postoperative pain differently.
Methods
A total of 300 patients scheduled for repair of a primary unilateral inguinal hernia
were randomized to non-mesh or mesh repair. The primary outcome measure was clinical
outcome including persistent pain and discomfort interfering with daily activity.
Long-term results at 3 years of follow-up have been published. Included here are 10-year
follow-up results with respect to pain.
Results
Of the 300 patients, 87 patients (30%) died and 49 patients (17%) were lost to follow-up.
A total of 153 were physically examined in the outpatient clinic after a median long-term
follow-up of 129 months (range, 109 to 148 months). None of the patients in the non-mesh
or mesh group suffered from persistent pain and discomfort interfering with daily
activity.
Conclusions
Our 10-year follow-up study provides evidence that mesh repair of inguinal hernia
is equal to non-mesh repair with respect to long-term persistent pain and discomfort
interfering with daily activity. An important new finding from the patient’s perspective
is that chronic postoperative pain seems to dissipate over time.
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Article info
Publication history
Accepted:
May 23,
2007
Identification
Copyright
© 2007 Mosby, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
