Comparison between Polypropylene Suture and Skin Staples for Securing Mesh in Lichtenstein Inguinal Hernioplasty

Abstract

Objective: To compare Polypropylene suture versus skin Staples for securing the mesh in patients undergoing Lichtenstein inguinal hernioplasty in terms of operative time, post-operative wound infections and pain.

Study Design: Comparative cross-sectional study.

Place and Duration of Study: Surgical Department, Combined Military Hospital, Quetta Pakistan, from Dec 2018 to Jun 2020.

Methodology: A total of 220 patients with unilateral inguinal hernia were included in the study and divided into two equal groups of 110 patients each and were assigned either to the Polypropylene-Group or the Staples-Group. All the patients underwent Lichtenstein hernioplasty on the elective operation list. Both groups were compared regarding operative time, post-operative pain and wound infections.

Results: The mean operative time was 58.8±3.31 minutes in the Polypropylene-Group vs. 49.87±2.67 minutes in the StaplesGroup. The mean post-operative pain score was 2.73±2.07 in the Polypropylene-Group and 1.95±2.18 in the Staples-Group. Wound infection was observed in 26 patients (23.64%) of the Polypropylene-Group vs. eight patients (7.27%) of the StaplesGroup, respectively, (p<0.001).

Conclusion: In patients undergoing Lichtenstein inguinal hernioplasty, skin staples are better than Polypropylene sutures for securing mesh. Staple application is a swift and painless procedure with lesser post-operative pain and less frequency of wound infections.