[Significance of the operative technic in surgical treatment of primary inguinal hernia. A prospective study of recurrence frequency when 2 different methods were used].

204 male patients aged 16 years and older who had been operated for acquired inguinal hernia at Sarpsborg Sykehus during the period 1975-81 were reexamined by means of a personal follow-up examination. Before the operation the patients were randomized into two different groups. One group was operated using Bassini's technique and the other using Hindmarsh's technique. This prospective clinical study revealed far fewer recurrences after the Hindmarsh operation. The recurrence rate of all inguinal herniae treated by the Hindmarsh operation was 7.4%, as against 18.7% in cases treated by the Bassini operation. Our study shows that the operative procedure chosen for treatment of acquired inguinal hernia is a variable affecting the rate of recurrence.