A selective history of groin herniorrhaphy in the 20th century.

Of the histories of the many operations available in a general surgeon's technical armamentarium, that of groin herniorrhaphy has been written about repeatedly. Many of these reports focus on developments prior to the twentieth century. This article, instead, details selective evolutionary changes relative to groin hernia surgery during the last nine decades. Among the surgeons discussed are Battle, Ferguson, La Roque, Cheatle, Gallie, Henry, Tanner, McVay, Shouldice, and Lichtenstein.