A RANDOMIZED CONTROLLED STUDY OF INGUINAL HERNIA USING MONOFILAMENT NON-ABSORBABLE SUTURE VERSUS MONOFILAMENT ABSORBABLE SUTURE IN LICHTENSTEIN TENSION FREE HERNIA REPAIR

Abstract

Background: The surgical treatment of inguinal hernias has evolved through several stage, history of groin hernia is the history of surgery itself. But, chronic pain is still a major irritating post-operative complain of the patient. The objective of the present study was to compare post-operative outcomes of mesh fixation with monofilament non-absorbable v/s monofilament absorbable suture material in terms of postoperative pain, chronic groin pain, seroma formation, wound infection and recurrence in Lichtenstein hernioplasty. Methods: This is a single centre, prospective randomized controlled study of 152 cases of inguinal hernia comparing post-operative outcomes of mesh fixation with monofilament non-absorbable v/s monofilament absorbable suture material in Lichtenstein hernioplasty at Baroda Medical College and S.S.G. Hospital, between 1st December 2017 to 30th November 2018. Results: Total 152 patients of unilateral or bilateral inguinal hernia were studied 76 in each group. Chronic groin pain mean visual analogue scale score at 3 months was higher in group with non-absorbable suture compared to monofilament absorbable group (1.3±0.9 v/s 0.95±0.8 p value <0.05). Conclusions: Monofilament absorbable suture is associated with less chronic groin pain and compared to monofilament non-absorbable sutures.