title: Short convalescence after inguinal herniorrhaphy with standardised recommendations: duration and reasons for delayed return to work.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To provide a detailed description of post-herniorrhaphy convalescence.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, descriptive, consecutive questionnaire case series.
  
  
  METHODS
  Public university hospital, Denmark.
  
  
  METHODS
  100 consecutive patients treated for inguinal hernia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Elective open inguinal herniorrhaphy under local anaesthesia. One day convalescence for light/moderate and three weeks for strenuous physical activity was recommended.
  
  
  METHODS
  Duration of absence from work or main recreational activity.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall median absence (including the day of operation) was 6 days (interquartile range 1-16). For unemployed patients it was 1 day (0-7), for patients with a light or moderate workload 6 days (3-12), and for those with a heavy workload 25 days (21-37). Among the 64 patients, who did not follow the recommendations, pain was contributory in 33 and advice from the general practitioner in 12. Pain was the main cause of impairment of activities of daily living.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Well-defined recommendations for convalescence may, together with improved management of postoperative pain, shorten convalescence; they are essential in the evaluation of effects of different surgical techniques of herniorrhaphy on convalescence.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, Hvidovre University Hospital, Denmark.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Callesen
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Klarskov
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Bech
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Kehlet
mesh_terms: D000041:Absenteeism; D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003289:Convalescence; D003718:Denmark; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors