Tension free hernioplasty in the treatment of recurrent inguinal hernia. Our experience

BACKGROUND: Despite the new surgical approach with "tension free" techniques, recurrent inguinal hernia repair remains a difficult surgical problem. METHODS: Personal experience in 61 cases of recurrent inguinal hernia is reported; in all patients a new hernioplasty with a "tension free" technique was performed. Medium follow-up of the study was 27 months (min 6 mm, max 56 mm); 3 recurrences were observed, 2 in Lichtenstein "plug" hernioplasty and 1 with the Trabucco technique. RESULTS: No recurrences were observed in Lichtenstein "mesh" hernioplasty group. CONCLUSIONS: Lichtenstein "mesh" hernioplasty can solve every anatomical situation in hernia recurrence and good results, with little or any complications, are achievable; "plug" technique is easier but recurrences in other sites of a weak inguinal wall are possible.