Mini mesh and Lichtenstein repair compared with a modified Kugel technique for femoral hernia: a randomised controlled trial.
INTRODUCTION A modified Kugel patch is more expensive than ordinary mesh and demands a wide dissection of the preperitoneal space in femoral hernia repair. We therefore adopted a novel method using mini mesh and a Lichtenstein repair. This study compared mini mesh and Lichtenstein repair with a modified Kugel technique in patients with a primary unilateral femoral hernia. METHODS Patients with unilateral femoral hernia were assigned randomly to undergo mini mesh and Lichtenstein repair (M group) or modified Kugel repair (K group) followed up at one week, three months, one year and two years. Demographics, hernia characteristics and operative outcomes of two groups were analysed. RESULTS A total of 48 patients in the K group and 49 participants in the M group completed follow up. The operation time for the M group (68.6 13.4 minutes) was significantly shorter than that of the K group (80.6 10.1 minutes; p=0.030) There was no significant difference between the two groups for chronic pain, foreign body feeling and quality of life, and no recurrence occurred. CONCLUSIONS Mini mesh and Lichtenstein repairs have reasonable results in the patients with femoral hernia in this study, with a reduced operation time compared with a modified Kugel repair. The trial was registered with the Chinese Clinical Trails Registry: ChiCTR1900022264.
Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England