Recurrent inguinal hernia: a personal study

A personal series of 287 recurrent inguinal hernias repaired by a single consultant surgeon is presented. Four techniques of repair were employed in the series: Bassini operation; a posterior 'lace repair'; complete closure of the canal after division of the spermatic cord and local repair of isolated defects. The overall recurrence rate, 27 failures in 287 operations (9 per cent) is disappointing. The best technique is excision of the cord and canal closure, two failures in 43 operations (5 per cent). Cord excision does carry a risk of testicular complications.