Inguinal hernia recurrence: Classification and approach

Abstract

The authors reviewed the records of 2,468 operations of groin hernia in 2,350 patients, including 277 recurrent hernias updated to January 2005. The data obtained - evaluating technique, results and complications - were used to propose a simple anatomo-clinical classification into three types which could be used to plan the surgical strategy:Type R1: first recurrence ′high,′ oblique external, reducible hernia with small (< 2 cm) defect in non-obese patients, after pure tissue or mesh repairType R2: first recurrence ′low,′ direct, reducible hernia with small (< 2 cm) defect in non-obese patients, after pure tissue or mesh repairType R3: all the other recurrences - including femoral recurrences; recurrent groin hernia with big defect (inguinal eventration); multirecurrent hernias; nonreducible, linked with a controlateral primitive or recurrent hernia; and situations compromised from aggravating factors (for example obesity) or anyway not easily included in R1 or R2, after pure tissue or mesh repair.

Keywords

• Classification
• groin hernia
• recurrence
• treatment