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Hernia
Published in: Hernia 3/2005

01-10-2005 | History

The contributions of Usher and others to the elimination of tension from groin herniorrhaphy

Author: Raymond C. Read

Published in: Hernia | Issue 3/2005

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Abstract

Relaxing incisions (Wolfler 1892) were eventually shown (Read and McLeod, 1981) to reduce but not eliminate wound tension after sutured herniorrhaphy of the groin. Reinforcing prosthetics became widely shunned because of morbidity until Usher et al (1958) introduced polyethylene, then polypropylene mesh (1963) for preperitoneal tensionless repair of large defects. Excellent long-term results were obtained, with his technique, by Collier and Griswold (1967). Patt (1967) envisaged its application to primary hernia.
Reis (1899) introduced early ambulation. However, it was not until Leithauser (1943), Blodgett (1946), and others showed immediate rising accelerated wound healing and reduced complications that Farquharson (1955) began outpatient hernioplasty (in 1950) under local anesthesia (Cushing 1900). Bellis (1964) followed, performing tensionless repair in 25%. Rodriguez and Phillips (1967) described office herniorrhaphy, 30% undergoing polypropylene mesh coverage without tension. Lichtenstein (1970) reported mesh onlay reinforcement for sutured repair of large defects, discharge was within 24 hours.
Martin et al (1982) began (in 1972) to treat all inguinal herniation in adults with polypropylene mesh “to avoid recurrences”. Newman did likewise, using tension-free placement (Rodriguez et al) in the subaponeurotic plane. Encountering resistance to publication (“real surgeons don’t use mesh”) he, in 1980, asked Lichtenstein to publish and popularize the technique. Kelly (1898) introduced plug prosthestic repair of femoral herniation. Drainer and Reid (1972) used polypropylene mesh from below under local anesthesia. Lichtenstein and Shore followed, treating recurrent inguinal defects similarly. Gilbert (1989) applied the technique to indirect herniae.
Usher and others deserve recognition for their contributions to the elimination of tension from herniorrhaphy.
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Metadata
Title
The contributions of Usher and others to the elimination of tension from groin herniorrhaphy
Author
Raymond C. Read
Publication date
01-10-2005
Publisher
Springer-Verlag
Published in
Hernia / Issue 3/2005
Print ISSN: 1265-4906
Electronic ISSN: 1248-9204
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10029-005-0322-1

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