Long-term outcomes after obturator hernia repair: retrospective analysis of 80 operations at a single institution.

PURPOSE

Long-term outcomes after obturator hernia surgery remain unclear.

METHODS

Between 1979 and 2012, 80 consecutive operations for obturator hernia were performed for 70 patients at our hospital. Their charts were retrospectively reviewed, and the patients were contacted by telephone to check for the presence of an episode of recurrence. Including bilateral cases, a total of 104 obturator hernia repairs were divided by type into either mesh repair (n = 29) or non-mesh repair (n = 75). Recurrence rate was then calculated and compared between groups.

RESULTS

Median age at the time of initial surgery was 84 years. Postoperative complications occurred in 31 operations (39 %), including four in-hospital deaths (5 %). After the initial obturator hernia surgery, the 2- and 5-year survival rates were 74 and 55 %, respectively. Seventeen recurrences were detected, all after non-mesh repairs. Recurrence rates at 3 years after obturator hernia repair were 0 % for mesh repair and 22 % for non-mesh repair (P = 0.048).

CONCLUSIONS

Once patients recover from an incarcerated obturator hernia, they may still enjoy their super-aged lives. To prevent the recurrence, mesh repair is preferable if no contraindications are present.