SHOULDICE VERSUS LICHTENSTEIN REPAIR

Abstract

Objective: To compare the results of tissue based Shouldice repair with the Lichtenstein tension free repair of inguinal hernia. Design: A prospective randomized controlled trial. Period: From Jan 2004 to Dec 2006. Setting: Surgical Unit-II, Allama Iqbal Medical College / Jinnah Hospital Lahore, Pakistan. Patients & Methods: A total of 156 patients were included in this study were equally divided into two groups. Results: The mean age was 45 years. After a follow up of upto 2 years there was significant difference in the recurrence rate. It was 5% in the Shouldice group and 1.28 %in the Lichtenstein group. Similarly chronic pain was also much higher i.e. 5% in the Shouldice group compared to 1.28% in Lichtenstein Group. The rate of hematoma and seroma formation was the same (1.28%) in both groups, however infection was seen slightly more in Lichtenstein repair (3.84%) as compared to Shouldice repair (2.56%). Conclusion: Tension free Lichtenstein technique was found to be superior to the tissue based Shouldice repair with respect to post operative complications and recurrence.