Prognosis
Prognosis is excellent after surgical repair. Patients often report an improvement in their quality of life.[110]Magnusson J, Videhult P, Gustafsson U, et al. Relationship between preoperative symptoms and improvement of quality of life in patients undergoing elective inguinal herniorrhaphy. Surgery. 2014 Jan;155(1):106-13.
http://www.surgjournal.com/article/S0039-6060(13)00329-2/fulltext
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23973111?tool=bestpractice.com
The incidence of recurrent hernia with mesh repair is reported to be less than 2%.[105]Belyansky I, Tsirline VB, Klima DA, et al. Prospective, comparative study of postoperative quality of life in TEP, TAPP, and modified Lichtenstein repairs. Ann Surg. 2011 Nov;254(5):709-14.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21997807?tool=bestpractice.com
[106]Shulman AG, Amid PK, Lichtenstein IL.The safety of mesh repair for primary inguinal hernias: results of 3,019 operations from five diverse surgical sources. Am Surg. 1992 Apr;58(4):255-7.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1586085?tool=bestpractice.com
Complications include hematoma, seroma, and paresthesias/numbness in the groin that dissipates over time.
Moderate to severe chronic groin pain is reported to occur in 10% to 12% of patients after inguinal hernia repair.[2]HerniaSurge Group. International guidelines for groin hernia management. Hernia. 2018 Feb;22(1):1-165.
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10029-017-1668-x
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/29330835?tool=bestpractice.com
[111]Poobalan AS, Bruce J, Smith WC, et al. A review of chronic pain after inguinal herniorrhaphy. Clin J Pain. 2003 Jan-Feb;19(1):48-54.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/12514456?tool=bestpractice.com
[112]Bay-Nielsen M, Perkins FM, Kehlet H; Danish Hernia Database. Pain and functional impairment 1 year after inguinal herniorrhaphy: a nationwide questionnaire study. Ann Surg. 2001 Jan;233(1):1-7.
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1421158
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11141218?tool=bestpractice.com
It is more likely to occur in patients who present with groin pain preoperatively as their primary symptom, and incidence is reported to be higher after open repair than laparoscopic repair.[110]Magnusson J, Videhult P, Gustafsson U, et al. Relationship between preoperative symptoms and improvement of quality of life in patients undergoing elective inguinal herniorrhaphy. Surgery. 2014 Jan;155(1):106-13.
http://www.surgjournal.com/article/S0039-6060(13)00329-2/fulltext
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/23973111?tool=bestpractice.com
[113]Alfieri S, Amid PK, Campanelli G, et al. International guidelines for prevention and management of post-operative chronic pain following inguinal hernia surgery. Hernia. 2011 Jun;15(3):239-49.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21365287?tool=bestpractice.com
[114]Nikkolo C, Murruste M, Vaasna T, et al. Three-year results of randomised clinical trial comparing lightweight mesh with heavyweight mesh for inguinal hernioplasty. Hernia. 2012 Oct;16(5):555-9.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22782366?tool=bestpractice.com
[78]Eklund A, Montgomery A, Bergkvist L, et al. Chronic pain 5 years after randomized comparison of laparoscopic and Lichtenstein inguinal hernia repair. Br J Surg. 2010 Apr;97(4):600-8.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/20186889?tool=bestpractice.com