Femoral hernia repair. Kugel retroparietal approach versus plug alloplasty: a prospective study.

Plug insertion for primary femoral hernia repair may cause p.o. discomfort. The Kugel technique may avoid this problem. Patients' satisfaction to the Kugel and the plug techniques is compared in the present study. Demographics, surgical, outcome and analgesic consumption data of 26 patients treated for with the plug technique (P group) are compared with 24 operated with the Kugel patch (K group). Patients' p.o. discomfort to the two procedures was measured with quantitative (VAS score) and a qualitative (the short form of McGill pain questionnaire, SF-MPQ) methods, and compared. P group presented higher early p.o. pain (P<0.001), higher analgesic consumption and a significative delay in the return to physical activity (P<0.001). SF-MPQ scores at p.o. day 8, day 30 and month 6 were significantly lower for K group (P<0.001, P<0.001, P<0.005). The Kugel technique for femoral hernia treatment seems to cause less p.o. discomfort to patients than the plug technique.