Longterm Followup (12-15 Years) of a Randomized Controlled Trial Comparing Bassini-Stetten, Shouldice, and High Ligation with Narrowing of the Internal Ring for Primary Inguinal Hernia Repair

Background: Shouldice repair for primary inguinal hernia is reported to have better results than classic Bassini-type repairs. The indirect inguinal hernia with a firm posterior wall is often assumed to be adequately treated by high ligation and ring narrowing.

Study Design: This double randomized controlled trial compared high ligation and ring narrowing with Bassini-Stetten repair for the indirect inguinal hernia with a firm posterior wall, and Shouldice with Bassini-Stetten repair for the inguinal hernia with a weakened posterior wall, direct or indirect. This report focuses on longterm (12-15 years) recurrence rates.

Results: From July 1980 to May 1983, 102 indirect primary inguinal hernias with a firm posterior wall (group I) and 263 primary inguinal hernias with a weakened posterior wall (group II) were included. By 1995, 89 patients with 100 hernia repairs had died, and for 30 repairs the patients could not be located. In 41 hernia repairs, a recurrence had been established previously. Of the remaining 194 hernia repairs, followup was updated by physical examination in 179 (92%) and by telephone interview in 15 (8%). A total of 83 recurrences were recorded, 42% of which were asymptomatic at the time of diagnosis. Seventy-three percent of the recurrences happened > 2 years after the operation. The life-table method showed the following longterm (12-15 years) recurrence rates: group I, Bassini-Stetten 33% versus ring narrowing 34%; group II, Bassini-Stetten 32% versus Shouldice 15% (p = 0.033).

Conclusions: The Shouldice is the best type of hernia repair, although the 15% recurrence rate is high. Bassini-Stetten and high ligation with ring narrowing are inadequate repairs, regardless of the type of hernia.