Long-term results after tension-free inguinal hernia repair

A total of 186 consecutive patients underwent open tension-free inguinal he rnia repair, either on one or both sides. Overall, 220 hernias were repaire d under local anesthesia conditions after intraoperatively classifying the size of the hernia. The follow-up investigation took place as planned in 16 5 hernias. The mean followup time was 15.5 months, with a range from 6.6 to 30.8 months, and the follow-up rate was 75.0 %. During this first follow-u p it was especially interesting to read the patients, self-assessment conce rning their physical restrictions during the first month after the operatio n. Furthermore, we were interested in learing about the objective and subje ctive operation-linked consequences in the patients, inguinal region. Most patients (89.7 %) were able to do sports and drive their car; 86.1 % were a ble to manage their usual physical activity 4 weeks after the operation. Fo cusing on the operation site, patients complained about chronic unpleasant effects, such as mild pain (21.2 %), local hypoesthesia (12.1 %), weather-d ependent changes in sensitivity (7.2 %), moderate pain (3.6 %), inguinal sy ndrome (1.8 %) and hyperesthesia (1.2 %). Persistent swelling in the parain guinal region was found in 1.8 % of the patients and only one recurrence wa s found (0.6 %). In the analysis we found that mild chronic pain was not re lated to the time period after the operation and the age or sex of the pati ent, but there was a correlation with the size of the hernia. Patients with small hernias significantly more often experienced chronic pain than patie nts with bigger hernias. These results suggest that open tension-free ingui nal hernia repair according to Lichtenstein appears to be overtreatment in patients with small inguinal hernias.