A retrospective study of the PROLENE hernia system compared with the mesh‑plug technique

To compare the results of the PROLENE hernia system (PHS) and mesh-plug technique (MPT), a retrospective study of adult patients with inguinal hernia was performed. The total number of inguinal herniorrhaphies for the past 9 years was 376, and the numbers of operative treatments by PHS, MPT and the Bassini procedure were 79, 291 and 6, respectively. There were no significant differences either in the operating time or the hospitalization days. No postoperative complications were observed in the PHS group; however, 8 complications were found among the 291 cases (2.75 %) of the MPT group (hematoma, 3 ; seroma, 2 ; testitis, 1 ; mesh infection, 2). Out of the total 376 cases, the number of initial and recurrence cases was 355 and 21, respectively, and out of the 21 recurrence cases the number of initial surgeries by Bassini and MPT was 14 and 7, respectively. Among the 21 recurrence cases there were no recurrences after PHS.