Absorbable suture in hernia repair.

In a randomized, double-blind study, comparison was made between absorbable polyglycolic acid sutures (Dexon) and non-absorbable sutures (Dacron) in inguinal and femoral herniorrhaphies. The study comprised 58 patients with 61 hernias. Bassini repair was done in inguinal hernia and McVay repair in femoral hernia. The patients were evaluated at a follow-up examination six months after the operation. There was no wound dehiscence or infection during the primary admission. In one patient from each group there was recurrence of hernia during the observation period. No suture granuloma had developed in that time. These results warrant the use of absorbable sutures in inguinal and in femoral herniorrhaphy.