[Traditional surgery of inguinal hernia]

Inguinal hernia repair is associated with a variety of complications of which the recurrence rate is one of the most important. The aim of this study was to examine all patients one year after surgery for inguinal hernia in an outpatient clinic. 12 months after the operation patients were interviewed and physically examined. 172 hernias in 166 patients were repaired in 1996 in our outpatient unit. 17 surgeons used nine different techniques. Follow-up was achieved in 93.9% of patients alive. Ten recurrences were found (6.3%). Four of the patients were not aware of their recurrence. 11% of the patients still had discomfort or pain after twelve months, whereas 5.2% had not resumed full activity. Other complications occurred in more than 20% of the operations. A "free to do policy" in inguinal hernia repair results in high recurrence and complication rates even in the hands of experienced surgeons in our clinic. The present study shows that an interview as well as a physical examination are necessary in evaluating recurrences, postoperative complications, postoperative pain and time to full mobilisation. Without physical examination, the recurrence rate would have been underreported.