Comparison of Bassini repair and mesh-plug repair for primary inguinal hernia: A retrospective study

The purpose of this study was to compare the mesh-plug repair with the Bass ini repair for the treatment of primary unilateral inguinal hernias. Patien ts with primary unilateral inguinal hernias who underwent a Bassini repair (n = 118) between January 1992 and May 1996 and a mesh-plug repair (n = 113 ) between July 1996 and April 1998 were retrospectively reviewed. We record ed information regarding the types of hernia according to Nyhus classificat ion, operation time, complications, postoperative recovery, and recurrence after surgery. The two groups were comparable regarding age, sex, side of h ernia, types of hernia, and the follow-up interval. The operation time was 55 +/- 20 min for Bassini repair and 54 +/- 18 min for mesh-plug repair. Th ere was no incidence of mesh infection in the mesh-plug repair cases. The a mount of diclofenac sodium (suppository) was 307 +/- 222 mg in the Bassini repair group and 132 +/- 182 mg in the mesh-plug repair group (P < 0.0001). The length of hospital stay was 8.2 +/- 2.0 days in the Bassini repair gro up and 4.3 +/- 2.7 days in the mesh-plug repair group (P < 0.01). Nine pati ents (7.6%) in the Bassini repair group had recurrence, compared with one p atient (0.9%) in the mesh-plug repair group. The recurrence-free survival i n the mesh-plug repair group was significantly longer than that in the Bass ini repair group (P = 0.03). In conclusion, patients with primary unilatera l inguinal hernias who undergo a mesh-plug repair recover more rapidly and have less recurrence in comparison with those who undergo a Bassini repair.