Inguinal hernia repair: a comparison of lichtenstein and darn techniques

ABSTRACT

To compare the number of postoperative complications and early recurrence between Lichtenstein tension free hernioplasty and Darn repair, for inguinal hernia. The study was conducted at Department of Surgery, Combined Military Hospital Rawalpindi from 1st Jan 2001 to 30th Nov 2002 and included 100 patients. The study design was quasi experimental. A total of 100 patients were selected. 50 patients were treated with Lichtenstein tension free hernioplasty [Group A] and 50 with Darn repair [Group B]. Cases were followed up for one year. The male to female ratio was 46.51. Total no of postoperative complications were 7[14.58%] in Group A and 21 [44.68%] in Group B. Haematoma was the most common complication followed by urinary retention and wound infection in both the study groups. Complications like haematoma [8.33% versus 14.89%], urinary retention [2.08% versus 12.76%], wound infection [2.08% versus 8.51%], scar pain [2.08% versus 6.38%] and testicular atrophy [0% versus 2.13%] were significantly low in Lichtenstein tension free hernioplasty as compared to Darn repair [P<0.05]. The early recurrence rate in this study was significantly low in Group A [0] as compared to Group B [O versus 4] but this is statistically insignificant [P>0.05]. Depending upon the surgeon's skills, Lichtenstein tension free hernioplasty has a definite superiority over Darn repair