[Pre-peritoneal inguinal hernioplasty using Rhodergon's prosthesis. Study of a series of 282 hernia operations]

282 acquired inguinal hernias in 183 adult patients were treated between 1974 and 1986 by means of a pre-peritoneal prosthesis. Posterior herniorrhaphy with reconstruction of the internal inguinal ring was associated with this procedure from 1981 onwards. 75% of the patients were reviewed with a mean follow-up of 58 months. Analysis of the results demonstrated a significant correlation between recurrences and the use of a single midline prosthesis for bilateral hernias and parietalisation of the spermatic cord and between septic complications and the use of a silicone-coated velvet prothesis, which subsequently had to be abandoned. Age, sex, obesity, type of hernia and a history of herniorrhaphy did not have any influence on the results. In group of 150 hernias treated with a single, lateralised Rhodergon prosthesis with a transprosthetic cord and reconstruction of the internal inguinal ring, the recurrence rate was 1.3% (2 cases) and the deep infection rate was 0.6% (1 case). Apart from early recurrences due to technical errors, the long-term efficacy of this technique appears to be permanent.