Frequency of Benign Joint Hypermobility Syndrome in Patients Undergoing Inguinal Hernia Repair: A Prospective Study

Abstract

The aim of this prospective study is to investigate the frequency and associated clinical findings of benign joint hypermobility syndrome (BJHS) in adult patients who were diagnosed with inguinal hernia. Benign joint hypermobility syndrome (BJHS) is defined as a clinical condition consisting of musculoskeletal symptoms such as arthralgia, pain, recurrent soft tissue disorders, joint dislocation, as well as increased normal range of motion. We hypothesized that the frequency of BHJS may increase in the patients who underwent surgery for groin hernias due to the hypermobility in connective tissue. We evaluated 66 patients in terms of BHJS prospectively in a 6-month period. The patients were divided into 2 groups. The first group consisted of 33 patients who underwent inguinal hernia repair surgery. The second group also included 33 healthy volunteers who did not have inguinal hernia operation. General joint hypermobility (GJH) was assessed using Beighton hypermobility scoring criteria, and BJHS was scored by Brighton scoring criteria. The data were assessed statistically. BJHS was diagnosed in 22 (66%) patients with inguinal hernia and in 4 (12%) healthy volunteers, respectively. Prevalence of BJHS and Beighton scores in patients with inguinal hernia were significantly higher (P < 0.05). GJH was found in 20 (60%) of the inguinal hernia patients (Beighton score ≥ 4; P < 0.05). BJHS should be considered when evaluating patients with inguinal hernia. We believe that further studies are needed in big cohorts to verify the relationship between inguinal hernia in adults and BJHS.