COMPARISON OF POSTOPERATIVE PAIN FOLLOWING DARNING VERSUS MESH REPAIR TECHNIQUES IN INGUINAL HERNIA SURGERY: A PROSPECTIVE STUDY

Background: Postoperative pain following inguinal hernia surgery is a critical factor impacting patient recovery and quality of life. This study aims to compare the postoperative pain levels between the darning technique and mesh repair in inguinal hernia surgery. Methods: A prospective study was conducted at Al-Hakeem General Hospital/Al-Karkh Health Directorate and Al-Zahraa Al-Batool Private Hospital in Baghdad, including 41 patients operated on between January 2021 and May 2024. Patients were divided into two groups based on the surgical technique used: darning technique and mesh repair. Postoperative pain was assessed at various time points using a standardized pain scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA test to determine statistical significance. Results: The average pain levels for the darning technique and mesh repair were 0.42 and 0.53, respectively. The ANOVA test revealed no statistically significant difference in postoperative pain levels between the two groups (p = 0.309). Conclusion: Both the darning technique and mesh repair are effective in managing postoperative pain in inguinal hernia surgery, with no significant difference between the techniques. Further research is needed to evaluate long-term outcomes and patient satisfaction.