Outcomes of Lichtenstein hernioplasty for primary and recurrent inguinal hernia

Introduction: The Lichtenstein hernioplasty for the repair of primary inguinal hernia in male patients is well established and constitutes the current gold standard. However a gold standard technique for the repair of recurrent inguinal hernia has not been established. The aim of this study was to analyze the outcomes of Lichtenstein hernioplasty for the repair of primary inguinal hernia and recurrent inguinal hernia, applying for that purpose the Qualitative and Quantitative Measurement Instrument (QQMI). Methods: We studied 75 recurrent inguinal hernia patients and 287 primary inguinal hernia patients with a follow-up period ranging from 60 to 107 months. Results: The final QQMI score demonstrated that most patients in both groups reached scores between 8 and 11 points, with a significant difference in the maximum score (11 points) favoring primary hernia patients. Conclusions: All evaluated parameters showed better outcomes in primary hernia patients. Applying the QQMI, we have demonstrated that the outcomes of Lichtenstein hernioplasty are not similar between primary and recurrent inguinal hernia; there is a tendency toward better outcomes for primary inguinal hernia patients, although the Lichtenstein hernioplasty stands as a safe option for repair of recurrent inguinal hernias.