Stitch granulomas following inguinal herniotomy: a 10-year review

During the years 1982 through 1991, stitch granulomata complicated 15 of 2,447 inguinal herniotomies. The lesions were diagnosed 3 to 120 months (mean +/- SE, 2.46 +/- 0.65 years) following surgery. Granulomata were associated with male sex (P = .02), emergency herniotomy (P = 0.016), surgery during the neonatal period (P = 0.004), and lower mean age at the time of herniotomy (0.79 v 2.84 years, P = .000001). In 13 cases, Staphylococcus aureus was recovered either alone or in combination with Staphylococcus epidermidis; all patients responded well to incision and drainage. Stitch granuloma appears to be associated with male herniotomy, emergency surgery, and use of silk sutures.