Open preperitoneal versus anterior approach for recurrent inguinal hernia: a randomized study

120 Patients in this study were divided randomly into 2 main groups; Group A patients were subjected to posterior preperitoneal approach and those of group B were subjected to conventional anterior tension-free repair. The primary end point was recurrence and the secondary end points were time off from work, postoperative pain, scrotal swelling and wound infections.The mean hospital stay was 1.2？days and 4.7, the mean time to return work was 8.2 and 11.2？days and the mean time off from work was 9.4 and 15.9？days in group A and B respectively. The maximum follow-up period was 48？months and the minimum was 14？months with a mean value as 37.11？±？5.14？months. Only 2 recurrences (3.3%) in group A and 4 cases (6.25%) in group B were seen. The final pain score per patient and the overall complication rate were higher in group B.The open preperitoneal repair offers the advantages of low recurrence rate and allows covering all potential defects with one piece of mesh and is far superior to the anterior approach.ACTRN12611000337976Inguinal herniorrhaphy remains one of the most common general surgical operations, with approximately 8-17% performed for recurrence as reported in nationwide large scale Danish study [1,2]. There is little available evidence on the optimal management of recurrent inguinal hernia, particularly if the original procedure involved the use of mesh [3]. The choice of an optimal strategy and surgical technique is probably more important in the treatment of recurrent hernias than in other areas of hernia surgery [4]. The repair of the resulting recurrent hernia is a daunting task because of already weakened tissues and obscured and distorted anatomy. The failure rate of these repairs using an open anterior approach may reach as high as 36% [5]. The evolution of the posterior preperitoneal approach for recurrent inguinal hernia repair made it the procedure of choice for the management of all recurrent groin hernias [6].Some surgeons recommend laparoscopic r