Comparison of Herniotomy Versus Mesh Repair in Young Patients in terms of Recurrence and Post-Op Complications

Objective: To compare the outcomes associated with herniotomy and mesh repair in young patients for treating inguinal hernia (IH). Study Design: Prospective comparative study. Place and duration of study: General Surgery Department of Pak-Emirates Military Hospital Rawalpindi, Pakistan, from Jul 2024 to Feb 2025. Methodology: One hundred(n=100) patients underwent surgical treatment for IH and were segregated into two groups. Group-A had a mesh repair, and Group-B had herniotomy without mesh placement. Patients underwent surveillance after the procedure, and results were established. Results: One hundred patients were recruited, and equally segregated into two groups. The operation time was 40.50 minutes (median) for herniotomy and 50.00 minutes (median) for mesh repair (p<0.001). After herniotomy, 1(2%) patient developed seroma, and after mesh repair 2(4%) patients developed seroma (p-value 0.55). Hematoma was formed in 2(4%) patients after herniotomy and in 1(2%) patient after mesh repair (p-value 0.55). One (2%) patient had wound infection after herniotomy, and 3(6%) patients had wound infection after mesh repair (p=0.30). Chronic groin pain (CGP) was present in 4(8%) patients after mesh repair and 2(4%) patients after herniotomy (p-value 0.40). Recurrence was observed in 2(4%) patients after herniotomy and in no patient after mesh repair (p=0.15). Conclusion: In young patients, herniotomy is an acceptable alternative compared to mesh repair, with no difference in terms of recurrence and complications.