THE USE OF FREE TRANSPLANTS OF FASCIA AS LIVING SUTURES IN THE TREATMENT OF HERNIA

Abstract

Recurrence of hernia after presumably satisfactory operations is much more frequent than is ordinarily supposed. The records of our army hospitals have demonstrated a very surprising percentage of failures among patients who were otherwise fit for general service and who, owing to their youth and muscular development, are considered the most satisfactory risks for operative treatment. This applied not only to direct inguinal hernias and to ventral hernias resulting from wounds or previous abdominal operations, but also to simple oblique inguinal hernias. The opportunity afforded by the collection of a large number of these cases over a short period of time led us to a clinical and experimental investigation of the subject, which has resulted in the formulation of some conclusions as to the cause of the failures as well as in the elaboration of a remedy which we think will lead to their reduction. After operations for the cure