Related Experiment Videos
Trabucco versus Rutkow versus Lichtenstein techniques in the treatment of groin hernia. A controlled randomized
M Testini1, S Miniello, G Piccinni
1Section of General and Vascular Surgery and Clinical Oncology, Department of Applications in Surgery of Innovative Technologies, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, University of Bari, Bari, Italy.
Background:
The aim of this prospective study is to compare the results of the 3 most common tension-free techniques usually performed (Trabucco vs Rutkow vs Lichtenstein).
Methods:
From January 1993 to December 1995 we selected 150 patients to undergo elective surgery for primary monolateral inguinal hernia. The patients were randomized into 3 groups: in group A (53 patients) we used the original plug and patch technique proposed by Rutkow and Robbins; in group B (47 patients) we introduced a modification to the technique originally described by Trabucco, anchoring the plug to the internal ring, fixing the patch on the pubic tubercle and on the tails of the mesh; in group C (50 patients) the Lichtenstein technique was employed. The study was performed using a randomized single blind controlled trial (RCT). The statistical analysis of our data was performed by c2 test and confirmed by the Fisher exact test. The mean follow-up was 73 months (range:58-94).
Results:
We had no statistically significant differences in the results of the 3 groups. Otherwise the patients of group C showed a significantly higher incidence of suprapubic or more rare inguino-scrotal haematoma (p<0.0033 C vs B; p <0.0038 C vs A). The mean recovery time was between 12 and 14 days in the 3 groups, with no significant statistical differences.
Conclusions:
The only difference observed is a higher incidence of postoperative haematoma in group C.