Modified prolene hernia system hernioplasty versus lichtenstein tension free mesh hernioplasty -a randomized study

INTRODUCTION: Modified prolene hernia system is a tension free anterior inguinal hernia repair using a bilayered modification of inguinal hernia mesh system. Inguinal hernia repair by Prolene is comparable with almost equal operating time, smaller incision and with a trend towards decreased complications rate and reduced rate of recurrences.
AIM: This study was conducted to study and to compare the results of Modified prolene hernia system and Lichtenstein Tension Free mesh hernioplasty with respect to its operative time, post-operative pain, intra/post-operative complications and total hospital stay.
METHODS: The effectiveness of MPHS were compared to Lichtenstein tension free mesh hernias repair in patients presenting with uncomplicated Inguinal Hernia for elective surgery in the Surgery department of IGMC, Shimla.
RESULTS: Duration of surgery was shorter in Modified prolene hernia system group (p=0.04) than the Lichtenstein tension free mesh hernioplasty [32 vs 34 minutes], The mean pain intensity in present study was 2.9 in Lichtenstein tension free mesh hernioplasty group and 2.7 in Modified prolene hernia system, No intra-operative complications were seen with either of the two groups. Post-operative complications in the form of seroma formation were more in Lichtenstein tension free mesh hernioplasty group than Modified Prolene Hernia system group (4 vs 0). There was one case of recurrence in the Lichtenstein tension free mesh hernioplasty group, while no short-term recurrence was seen in Modified Prolene Hernia system group over 12 weeks. Mean duration of post-operative hospital stay was 1.57 days for Lichtenstein tension free mesh hernioplasty group and 1.33 days for Modified Prolene Hernia system group.
CONCLUSION: This study concludes that even though the difference between the two methods in this randomized study were small, the Modified prolene hernia system repair method for open inguinal hernia repair was associated with a shorter operative time, lower rate of recurrence, as well as fewer complications when compared with the Lichtenstein tension free mesh hernioplasty. Modified Prolene Hernia System , cost wise is more economical than conventional Prolene Hernia system. Further prospective studies are needed to rigorously evaluate the comparative advantages of Modified prolene hernia system repair in relation to other repair methods.