title: Prospective randomized trial of polypropylene mesh compared with nylon darn in inguinal hernia repair.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The main aim of this study was to evaluate outcome in patients undergoing open inguinal hernia repair with either polypropylene mesh or nylon darn.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a randomized prospective trial of patients who underwent the procedure with follow-up at 1 week, 6 weeks and 1 year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  One hundred men underwent 105 repairs by consultant surgeons and registrars; there were 54 mesh and 51 nylon repairs. Demographics in both groups were similar at the start of the trial, as were the types of hernia. The pain scores at 24, 48 and 72 h were similar, as was the duration of analgesia requirement. There were no differences in early or late complications. Return to normal activity in each group was also similar, with a mean time of 5 weeks. The recurrence rate in both groups was comparable: 4 per cent after mesh repair and 4 per cent after darn repair at 1-year review.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Open inguinal hernia repair with a nylon darn was equivalent to polypropylene mesh with respect to early measures of postoperative outcome and recurrence at 1 year.
authors.affiliation: Department of General and Gastrointestinal Surgery, Flinders Medical Centre, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Koukourou
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Lyon
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rice
authors.forename: D A
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Wattchow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009757:Nylons; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011126:Polypropylenes; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012008:Recurrence; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D013536:Suture Techniques
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics; D009757:Nylons; D011126:Polypropylenes