Comparison between Inguinal Herniotomies with and without Incising External Oblique Aponeurosis: a Randomized Clinical Trial

BACKGROUND Inguinal herniotomy is the most common surgery performed by pediatric surgeons. AIM To compare the results and complications between two conventional methods of pediatric inguinal herniotomy with and without incising external oblique aponeurosis in terms of recurrence of hernia and other complications. METHODS This one blinded clinical trial study was conducted on 800 patients with indirect inguinal hernia. Inclusion criterion was children with inguinal hernia. The first group underwent herniotomy without incising external oblique aponeurosis and second group herniotomy with incising external oblique aponeurosis. Recurrence of hernia and other complications including ileoinguinal nerve damage, hematoma, testicular atrophy, hydrocele, ischemic orchitis, and testicular ascent were evaluated. RESULTS Recurrence and other complications with or without incising external oblique aponeurosis had no significant difference, exception made to hydrocele significantly differed between the two groups, higher in the incision group. CONCLUSION Herniotomy without incising oblique aponeurosis can be appropriate choice and better than herniotomy with incising oblique aponeurosis. Children with inguinal herniotomy can be benefit without incising oblique aponeurosis, instead of more interventional traditional method.