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 Bassini repair for the treatment of primary unilateral inguinal hernias. Patients 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 recorded information regarding the types of hernia according to Nyhus classification, operation time, complications, postoperative recovery, and recurrence after surgery. The two groups were comparable regarding age, sex, side of hernia, types of hernia, and the follow-up interval. The operation time was 55 +/- 20min for Bassini repair and 54 +/- 18min for mesh-plug repair. There was no incidence of mesh infection in the mesh-plug repair cases. The amount of diclofenac sodium (suppository) was 307 +/- 222mg in the Bassini repair group and 132 +/- 182mg in the mesh-plug repair group (P < 0.0001). The length of hospital stay was 8.2 +/- 2.0 days in the Bassini repair group and 4.3 +/- 2.7 days in the mesh-plug repair group (P < 0.01). Nine patients (7.6%) in the Bassini repair group had recurrence, compared with one patient (0.9%) in the mesh-plug repair group. The recurrence-free survival in the mesh-plug repair group was significantly longer than that in the Bassini repair group (P = 0.03). In conclusion, patients with primary unilateral inguinal hernias who undergo a mesh-plug repair recover more rapidly and have less recurrence in comparison with those who undergo a Bassini repair.