Assessment of Clinical Outcomes of Sutured Versus Sutureless Self-Gripping Polyester Mesh in Patients With Uncomplicated Indirect Inguinal Hernia in a Tertiary Care Hospital

Background Inguinal hernia repair is a common surgical procedure addressing the protrusion of abdominal viscera through the inguinal canal. Despite advancements, complications such as chronic postoperative pain, infections, and hernia recurrence persist. Traditional sutured polypropylene mesh can cause nerve irritation and inflammation, leading to chronic pain and other issues. Innovations in hernia repair, like the self-gripping, low-density, macroporous polyester mesh, aim to mitigate these problems. This mesh adheres to tissues without sutures, potentially reducing operative time, postoperative pain, and related complications. The study compares the clinical outcomes of sutureless self-gripping polyester mesh versus sutured polypropylene mesh in inguinal hernia repair, focusing on operative time, postoperative pain, hospital stay length, seroma formation, and hernia recurrence to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of the self-gripping mesh. Methodology This cross-sectional study was conducted over one year at our hospital. Sixty patients with uncomplicated primary inguinal hernias were enrolled and divided into two groups: group A (self-gripping polyester mesh) and group B (sutured polypropylene mesh). The primary outcomes measured included operative time, postoperative pain (visual analog scale), hospital stay length, seroma formation, and hernia recurrence. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 21.0 (IBM Corp., Armonk, NY), with descriptive and inferential statistics applied to compare the outcomes between the groups. Results The study found no significant differences in demographic variables between the two groups. The self-gripping polyester mesh (SF) group had significantly shorter operative times (67.2 minutes vs. 88.1 minutes, p < 0.001), lower postoperative pain scores (3.30 vs. 4.60, p < 0.001), and shorter hospital stays (3.2 days vs. 5.2 days, p = 0.000) compared to the sutured polypropylene mesh (SM) group. Rates of seroma formation and hernia recurrence were not significantly different between the groups. Multivariate regression analysis indicated that the type of mesh was a significant predictor of postoperative pain scores, with self-gripping mesh associated with lower pain. Conclusions Self-gripping polyester mesh offers significant advantages over traditional sutured polypropylene mesh in inguinal hernia repair, including reduced operative time, postoperative pain, and hospital stay without increasing the risk of seroma formation or hernia recurrence. These findings suggest that self-gripping mesh may be a superior option for inguinal hernia repair, potentially improving patient outcomes and reducing healthcare costs. Further multicenter studies with longer follow-up periods are recommended to confirm these benefits.