Open inguinal hernia repair with the use of polyglycolic acid/trimethylene carbonate absorbable mesh: a critical update of the long-term results

Abstract

Purpose: Our group evaluated on a pilot basis open inguinal hernia repair with the use of a fully absorbable mesh aiming to take mesh inguinal hernia repair one step forward. The purpose of the present study was to assess the long-term results of the proposed technique.

Methods: Patients that were included in our previous report were followed up at 3 years after the initial operation.

Results: Ten patients underwent open inguinal hernia repair with the use of an absorbable polyglycolic acid/trimethylene carbonate mesh. 3 years after the procedure, from the total of ten patients, two were lost to follow-up (20 %). Three patients (37.5 %), one with direct and two with indirect hernia, were diagnosed clinically with a recurrence at the follow-up of 3 years. Recurrences were developed nearly 2 years--median 24 months (range 18-30)--after the initial operation. Among patients without recurrence none complained about chronic pain, foreign body sensation or numbness. On the other hand, chronic pain was a constant complain in the recurrence patient group.

Conclusions: The results of the 3-year follow-up in the given patient sample alleviate the initial enthusiasm regarding the use of an absorbable mesh for inguinal hernia repair as an attractive alternative and causes skepticism about the generalized use of the procedure in its certain form.