Results of performing mesh plug repair for groin hernias

The simplicity and good postoperative results of mesh plug repair for groin hernias have been reported in numerous articles. We have been performing this procedure in our department for more than 5 years, and the present study was conducted to reexamine its clinical outcome from our viewpoint. A total of 224 patients with a collective 244 groin hernias underwent mesh plug repair between March 1993 and August 1998. There were 155 (63.5%) indirect hernias, 79 (32.4%) direct hernias, 2 (0.8%) femoral hernias, and 8 (3.3%) compound hernias; 27 (11.1%) were recurrent hernias. Two plugs were inserted in all the compound hernias and in two of the direct hernias with a diffuse weak inguinal floor. The mean operating time was 32.2min. The complications that developed during this study were continuous pain in four patients, seroma in two, and hematoma in one. The rates of recurrence were 0% for indirect hernias and 12.7% for direct hernias. The patients in whom recurrence developed underwent mesh plug repair again and have had no further recurrence. Our experience showed mesh plug repair to be an excellent technique for indirect hernias or recurrent hernias after mesh repair, but it might be unsuitable for direct hernias with a diffuse bulging weakness in the floor of the inguinal canal.