Quality of life after TAPP repair comparing sports hernia and groin hernia

Gerwin A Bernhardt, MD, Benjamin Molderings, Christian Giessauf, MD, Hans-Jorg Mischinger, MD

Department of Surgery, Medical University of Graz

Introduction: Sports hernia is a clinical diagnosis of chronic, painful musculotendinous injury to the medial inguinal floor occurring with athletic activity without the existance of a groin hernia. Long term results for laparoscopic hernia repair especially data on quality of life (QOL) are lacking. To the best of our knowledge there are no data on QOL after sports hernia. The aim of this study was first, to compare postoperative QOL data in patients undergoing transabdominal preperitoneal patch technique (TAPP) for inguinal hernia with data from patients undergoing TAPP for sports hernia ans second to compare these results with QOL data of the Austrian norm population.

Methods: In this retrospective analysis we included all patients (n=559) undergoing TAPP repair between 2000 and 2005. Fifty patients (8.9%) were opertaed because of sports hernia or chronic groin pain; the remaining patients because of groin hernia. Thirty-eight patients died of unrelated causes during the follow-up period. We sent out a self constructed hernia questionnaire including the short form thirty-six health survey (SF-36) for QOL evaluation to the remaining patients. QOL data were compared with data from an age and sex matched Austrian norm population.

Results: Finally 362 (70% response rate) completed questionnaires could be evaluated. Patients mean age was 62±16 years. The mean follow-up time was 93±20 months. Thirty-four patients (68% response rate) with sports hernia returned a completed questionnaire.There were no significant differences between groin hernia and sports hernia patients. There was no statistically significant difference between the summary measures PCS and MCS compared to the Austrian population norms (see table); however differences in the SF-36 subscales could be detected.

SF-36 results (summary measures):

Discussion: Long term results of QOL after TAPP repair for groin hernia as well as sports hernia are comparable to the norm population. Differences in subscales need to be further analysed.

Session: Podium Presentation

Program Number: S023