Background: The Lichtenstein mesh repair is the present gold standard for open repair of the inguinal hernia. As a result the recurrence of hernia has come down from 40% to less than 1%. However, the problem of chronic inguinodynia remains. The aim of the present study was to assess whether chronic inguinodynia could be influenced by using partially absorbable monofilament light weight mesh as compared to heavy weight prolene mesh. Methods: The study randomised 200 patients undergoing elective inguinal hernia repair into two groups of 100 each according to the type of mesh used. Group I underwent HW (prolene ) mesh repair and group II underwent LW (vypro) mesh repair. Follow up for chronic groin pain was done using VAS ( 1-10 ), for a period varying between 06 months and 02 yrs with an average period of 15 months. The patient and the assessor of pain during the follow up, were blinded to the type of mesh used. Results :. The chronic pain was observed to be of mild severity (VAS 1-3 ) in both groups. The pain difference between the two groups at 03 months was not statistically significant ( p=0.197), whereas at 06 months , 01yr and at 02 yrs pain was although mild (vas1-3) but was statistically significant, p=<0.001, p=0.001 and p=<0.001 respectively, more in prolene group. The foreign body sensation was 16% in group I and 0% in group II. Conclusions : The chronic pain seen in both groups has been of mild variety ( VAS 1-3 ), though slightly more among the prolene group.  

Keywords: Chronic Pain; Lichtenstein Hernioplasty; Light Weght (Vypro) Mesh; Heavy Weight (Prolene) Mesh.