Preliminary experience with Marlex plug repair for femoral hernia

Femoral hernia, in spite of its low incidence among groin hernias, is often complicated by incarceration, and has a higher recurrent rate despite traditional inguinal or pectineal ligment repair. The high recurrence rate results from distortion of the normal anatomy of the femoral canal and tissue tension on suture line. From January 1990 to December 1992, the femoral hernias of 20 patients have been repaired here by using a Marlex (poly propylene) plug on an out-patient basis. A 8 x 2 cm Marlex plug prosthesis was inserted into the femoral canal from below to achieve strong repair without tension. The surgical technique was simple; postoperative pain, minimal; recovery was rapid. In the six months to three year follow-up, there has been no recurrence. It is concluded that the Marlex plug repair is a method of choice for treatment of femoral hernia.