Comparison of polydioxanone (PDS (R)) and polypropylene (Prolene (R)) for Shouldice repair of primary inguinal hernias: a prospective randomised trial

Objective: To compare the recurrence rates after Shouldice operation for pr imary inguinal hernias, using non-absorbable polypropylene or absorbable po lydioxanone suture material. Design: Randomised, controlled trial. Setting: Teaching hospital, Germany. Subjects: 220 male patients who had 233 elective Shouldice repairs of prima ry inguinal hernias, 201 of whom were followed up. Intervention: Standard Shouldice procedure with 2/0 polypropylene (Prolene( R), n = 98) or 2/0 polydioxanone (PDS(R), n = 103). Main outcome measures: Recurrence rates after a minimum follow-up of 24 mon ths (range 24-48, mean 31) Results, Numbers of early complications were similar in the two groups; the re were 2 wound infections in each. A total of 193 patients with 201 repair s had a documented follow-up (86%). There were 6 recurrences in the PDS(R) group and 5 in the Prolene(R) group, giving a total recurrence rate of 5%. This difference was not significant (Fisher's exact test, p = 1.0). Conclusion: Recurrence rates in both groups were higher than expected, but there was no difference between the two groups.