Adult groin hernias: acute and elective

The science of groin herniorrhaphy has evolved greatly over the last twenty years. There have been many developments by surgeons such as Halsted, McVay, Maloney and Shouldice since Bassini's pioneering work in 1887. Their aim was to teach the principles of repair so that the ‘average’ surgeon may attain acceptable recurrence rates. This review discusses crucial features of adult groin hernias, including anatomical considerations, prosthetic material, anaesthesia, inguinal hernias, femoral hernias, and complications of groin hernia repair.