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CompletedNCT06681454Updated Nov 8, 2024

Comparing Darn and Lichtenstein Repair for Bilateral Inguinal Hernias in Adult Males in a Low-Resource Setting

An observational study in Darn Vs. Lichtenstein Hernia Outcomes, Outcomes of Darn and Lichtenstein Hernia Repairs and Bilateral Inguinal Hernia: Darn Vs. Lichtenstein, sponsored by Sudan Medical Specialization Board. Completed at 1 site in Sudan. Open to male participants aged 16 Years to 85 Years. Per ClinicalTrials.gov, last updated 2024-11-08.

Sponsored by Sudan Medical Specialization Board · Observational

Study type
Observational
Model
Cohort
Time perspective
Retrospective
Enrollment
75
Ages
16 Years to 85 Years
Sex
Male
01

Study summary

This retrospective study evaluates the efficacy of Darn versus Lichtenstein repair methods in treating bilateral inguinal hernias in adult males within a low-resource setting in Sudan. The study aims to determine which surgical technique results in better postoperative outcomes, focusing on complication rates, recurrence, and recovery times. Data for this analysis will be sourced from medical records of patients who underwent these procedures between January 2021 and October 2023 at Al-Waleedeen Specialized Hospital.

Read the detailed description

Study Design and Setting

This is a retrospective comparative cohort study undertaken at Al-Waleedeen Specialized Hospital, a governmental tertiary care center in Gezira State, Sudan. The study period spans from January 2021 to October 2023, involving adult males diagnosed with bilateral inguinal hernias.

Study Procedures

Medical records will be systematically reviewed to extract data on surgical technique employed-either Darn or Lichtenstein method. The review will document specific procedural details such as the type of anesthesia used, duration of the surgeries, surgical team composition, and intraoperative management techniques. Information on immediate postoperative care will also be collected, focusing on pain management strategies and mobilization protocols.

Data Collection

The data collection will emphasize capturing precise measures related to surgical outcomes. This includes the exact nature and timing of any postoperative complications (e.g., infection, hematoma, seroma), the precise time to recurrence if applicable, and detailed recovery timelines including return to daily activities and work. All data points will be aligned with the definitions set forth in the STROBE guidelines to maintain consistency and reliability in reporting.

Analytical Methods

The primary analytical approach will involve comparing the frequency and severity of complications between the two surgical methods. Statistical methods will include chi-square tests for categorical data and t-tests for continuous variables, with a significance level set at p\<0.05. Kaplan-Meier curves may be used to estimate recurrence rates over the follow-up period, and a Cox proportional hazards model will assess risk factors for recurrence and complications.

Outcome Measures

The main outcome measures will focus on:

Short-term complications within the first three months post-surgery. Long-term hernia recurrence over the follow-up period. Recovery timelines, quantified by time until return to usual activities and work.

Ethical Considerations

The study protocol has been reviewed and approved by the Institutional Review Board at Al-Waleedeen Specialized Hospital. All data will be de-identified to ensure confidentiality and compliance with ethical standards for research involving human subjects.

02

Conditions studied

  • Darn Vs. Lichtenstein Hernia Outcomes
  • Outcomes of Darn and Lichtenstein Hernia Repairs
  • Bilateral Inguinal Hernia: Darn Vs. Lichtenstein

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Keywords

  • Retrospective cohort study
  • Low-resource setting
  • Medical records analysis
  • Bilateral inguinal hernia
  • Lichtenstein repair method
  • Darn repair method
03

In context

Hernia, Inguinal

543 studies on the registry are indexed under Hernia, Inguinal; 92 are open to participants now.

This study's enrollment of 75 is below the median of 134 across 137 observational studies indexed under Hernia, Inguinal.

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Lead sponsor

Sudan Medical Specialization Board is the lead sponsor of 5 studies on the registry; 1 is open to participants now.

Counted across the registry records on this site, refreshed daily.

04

Who can participate

Ages eligible
16 Years to 85 Years
Sexes eligible
Male
Accepts healthy volunteers
No
Sampling method
Non-probability sample

Study population

The study population will consist of adult male patients aged 16 to 85 years who present with bilateral primary direct or indirect inguinal hernias at Al-Waleedeen Specialized Hospital in Gezira State, Sudan. Participants will be selected based on their medical records and will have undergone open elective hernia repair using either the Darn or Lichtenstein technique during the recruitment period from January 2021 to October 2023.

Go through the criteria one by one — yes, no or not sure — and take the list to your doctor or the study team. Kept in this browser only.

Inclusion criteria

Male patients aged 16 to 85 years. Diagnosed with bilateral primary direct or indirect inguinal hernias. Underwent open elective repairs using either the Lichtenstein or Darn method.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion Criteria:

Patients with recurrent hernias. Female patients. Patients with unilateral hernias. Those undergoing laparoscopic or emergency surgery. Patients with poorly controlled diabetes ( > 7). Patients diagnosed with cancer, tuberculosis. Patients with giant inguinoscrotal hernias.

Terms in these criteria, in plain language(1)

Underlined terms in the criteria open these too. Explained by clinicaltrials.gg, not part of the registry record. The study team decides who can take part.

HbA1c

A blood test of average blood sugar over the past two to three months, given as a percentage or in mmol/mol. 6.5% (48 mmol/mol) or more is the usual threshold for diabetes, normally confirmed by a second test.

05

Study design

Observational model
Cohort
Time perspective
Retrospective
Enrollment
75 participants (actual)
Patient registry
No

Groups and cohorts

  • Lichtenstein Repair Cohort

    This group consists of adult male patients who underwent bilateral inguinal hernia repair using the Lichtenstein technique. The Lichtenstein method involves the use of a synthetic mesh to provide support to the weakened abdominal wall, minimizing the risk of recurrence and promoting quicker recovery.

  • Darn Repair Cohort

    This group comprises adult male patients who underwent bilateral inguinal hernia repair using the Darn technique. The Darn method is a tension-free repair technique that utilizes the patient's own tissue without the use of mesh, aimed at reducing postoperative pain and complication rates.

06

What researchers measure

Primary outcomes

  1. Complication Rates

    Number of patients experiencing postoperative complications. Unit of Measure: Percentage of total patients.

    Time frame: Up to 3 months post-surgery

  2. Hernia Recurrence Rates

    Number of patients with recurrence of hernia after initial repair. Unit of Measure: Percentage of total patients.

    Time frame: Up to 3 months post-surgery .

Secondary outcomes

  1. Postoperative Pain Level

    Average pain scores reported by patients using the Visual Analog Scale. Unit of Measure: Pain score on a scale from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst possible pain).

    Time frame: Assessed at 24 hours, 72 hours, and 1 week post-surgery.

  2. Duration of Hospital Stay

    Length of hospital stay post-surgery. Unit of Measure: Number of days from surgery to discharge.

    Time frame: From date of surgery to discharge, within 30 days post-surgery

  3. Recovery Times

    Time taken for patients to return to usual activities/work post-surgery. Unit of Measure: Number of days from surgery to return to usual activities.

    Time frame: Assessed at 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months post-surgery.

07

Study locations

1 site
  • Al-Waleedeen Specialized Hospital
    Wad ALnaeem, Gazira 12111, Sudan
08

References and documents

Individual participant data

Plan to share: No — Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared publicly due to several considerations. First, the data includes sensitive personal health information, which must be protected to comply with privacy regulations and ethical standards. Additionally, the study is conducted in a low-resource setting, where data management and sharing capabilities may be limited. Ensuring the confidentiality and anonymity of participants is paramount, and sharing IPD could compromise these ethical obligations. Finally, the data will be used exclusively for the purpose of this study to inform clinical practice within the context of the local healthcare system, rather than for broader dissemination.

No publications or documents are linked to this record.

09

Timeline

Tracking since Sep 25, 2026
ElapsedEstimatedEstimated, not yet reached

Ran from Jan 2021 to primary completion in Oct 2023, 33 months.

How these figures are worked out, and which studies are left out of them.

Registered
Oct 24, 2024
First posted
Nov 8, 2024
StartActual
Jan 11, 2021
Primary completionActual
Oct 11, 2023
CompletionActual
Sep 22, 2024
Last update
Nov 8, 2024
What these dates mean
Start.
When the first participant enrolled; while estimated, when the study expects to open to recruitment.
Primary completion.
When the last participant was examined or treated to collect data for the study's main question, its primary outcome. A study that stopped early gives the date its data collection stopped.
Completion.
When the last participant's last visit took place, for every outcome, secondary ones and side effects included: the end of the study. Often later than primary completion, sometimes the same day.
Actual and Est.
Actual means the registry says the date has happened. Est. (estimated) is a date the sponsor plans or expects. It can still move, and the sponsor is expected to change it to actual once it has passed.
No changes since tracking began. The registry record was last updated on Nov 8, 2024, before this site started recording changes on Sep 25, 2026. Its history is on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗
10

Registry details

Key details

Study ID
NCT06681454
Lead sponsor
Sudan Medical Specialization Board
Collaborators
Sudan Medical Specialization Board (SMSB)
Responsible party
Alsadig Suliman (General surgery, Federal Ministry of Health, Sudan) — Principal investigator
First posted
Nov 8, 2024
Start date
Jan 11, 2021
Primary completion
Oct 11, 2023
Completion
Sep 22, 2024
Last update
Nov 8, 2024

Oversight

Data monitoring committee
Yes
FDA-regulated drug
No
FDA-regulated device
No
View the source record on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗

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