Long-term Follow-up of Lichtenstein's Operation Versus Mesh Plug Repair

Inclusion Criteria: * 40 years and older, patients who became 40 in the year of the operation were included (6 patients younger than 40 years were included because of explicit patient's wish). * provision of written informed consent, * symptomatic unilateral or bilateral inguinal hernia. Exclusion Criteria: * presence of a femoral hernia, * history of hernia repair with mesh, * type I diabetes, * presence of local or diffuse infection (urine, skin, lung, sepsis), * immune deficiency, * severe medical problems contraindicating safe induction of general anaesthesia or elective surgery, * pregnancy, * malignant tumours and * life expectancy of less than 2 years