The Shouldice repair.

A series of more than 200,000 groin hernias repaired at Shouldice Hospital since 1945 has had an overall recurrence rate of 1%. Thorough and extensive dissection is essential. The technique employed since 1953 for inguinal hernia repair is described in detail. Adjunctive measures for the repair of femoral hernias and for the most difficult recurrent hernias also are discussed.