Prospective randomized comparison of the Shouldice and Lichtenstein hernia repair procedures.

OBJECTIVE: To compare the Lichtenstein, tension-free mesh, and the Shouldice, 4-layer Bassini repair of the inguinal hernia.

DESIGN: Prospective randomized clinical trial.

SETTING: A private suburban hernia center.

PATIENTS: Six hundred seventy-two men with inguinal hernias, aged 20 to 90 years, seen at the hernia center between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 1995.

INTERVENTIONS: Slightly modified Shouldice and Lichtenstein repairs were used to repair primary and recurrent inguinal hernias.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Recurrence rates, symptoms (including patient satisfaction), and infections.

RESULTS: A total of 717 repairs in 672 patients, including 45 bilateral repairs, have been monitored to date. Recurrence of hernia occurred in 7 Shouldice repairs and 2 mesh repairs. Twelve superficial infections associated with Shouldice and 6 associated with mesh repairs were found.

CONCLUSIONS: Both types of hernia repair are comparable and effective, but long-term results favor the Lichtenstein technique for reducing recurrences (to a P value of .10), ease of technical mastery, and application to the outpatient setting by use of a local anesthetic.