Prosthetic repair of femoral hernia: audit of long term follow-up

OBJECTIVE: To study the long term results of 93 femoral hernia repairs by cylindrical prothesis with a polypropylene mesh. DESIGN: Prospective open study. SETTING: District hospital, Spain. SUBJECTS: 92 patients who had 93 hernias repaired between 1989 and 1992. INTERVENTIONS: Lichtenstein repair of femoral hernias. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Complications and recurrences. RESULTS: The mean follow up was 64 months (range 43-84). There was one recurrence 4 months postoperatively in a patient who had been operated on as an emergency for an incarcerated hernia, and in one patient the prosthesis had to be removed 10 days after the initial operation. This was subsequently repaired with polypropylene mesh and had not recurred at 4 years. CONCLUSION: Herniorrhaphy with cylindrical prosthesis is our preferred elective technique for repair of primary femoral hernias although other techniques are advisable for incarcerated or recurrent hernias.