IPSILATERAL MULTIPLE GROIN HERNIAS

Background. Recurrence rates after surgical repair of groin hernia var y between 3% and 20%. One possible reason for recurrent hernias are ip silateral multiple hernias, which might have been overlooked at the pr imary operation. Methods. In the present series 1010 patients with unc lear groin pain underwent herniography. Results. A total of 314 patien ts had hernias, and seventy-one (23%) of these had multiple hernias. I psilateral multiple hernias were found in 18 (6%) patients. Ipsilatera l multiple hernias were present in 9 (6%) of 144 patients with an indi rect hernia, in 17 (12%) of 144 patients with a direct hernia, in 5 (2 1%) of 24 patients with a femoral hernia, and in 3 (23%) of 13 patient s with an obturator hernia. The hernias were of indirect, femoral, and obturator types. Conclusions. The frequency of ipsilateral multiple h ernias is much higher than the frequency reported during herniorrhaphy . Such overlooked ipsilateral multiple groin hernias may account for s ome of the so-called recurrences after herniorrhaphy may also prove to be useful in patients with recurrent groin symptoms after herniorrhap hy.