title: Randomized comparison of self-fixating and sutured mesh in open inguinal hernia repair.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic groin pain after mesh repair of inguinal hernia has been attributed to the presence of sutures.
  
  
  METHODS
  This randomized clinical trial compared inguinal hernia repair using a self-fixating composite mesh or a sutured lightweight mesh, with pain at 1 year as primary outcome. Patients completed a self-evaluation questionnaire at 2 weeks and were examined after 1 year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Some 198 patients received self-fixating mesh and 196 sutured mesh. There were no differences between the groups in mean pain scores measured on a visual analogue scale during 2 weeks of immediate convalescence or at 1 year. Chronic pain and discomfort was experienced by 36.3 per cent of patients in the self-fixating and 34.1 per cent in the sutured mesh group (P = 0.658), affecting the everyday life of 1.1 and 2.8 per cent respectively (P = 0.448).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Open inguinal hernia repair with a composite self-fixating mesh resulted in similar pain in the early postoperative convalescence period and at 1 year as repair with a sutured lightweight mesh.
authors.affiliation: Ambulatory Surgery Unit of Jorvi Hospital, Espoo, Finland. georgios.pierides@fimnet.fi
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Pierides
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Scheinin
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Remes
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hermunen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vironen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D059350:Chronic Pain / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000209:etiology; D012008:Recurrence; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D013536:Suture Techniques; D055815:Young Adult