Giving back to the Community: Outcomes from a free hernia repair program.

Introduction: This study aimed to assess quality of life (QoL) for patients involved in a free hernia repair program (FHRP), hypothesizing improvements in these patients' QoL.

Methods: Single-center, retrospective survey study of underserved patients who underwent inguinal/umbilical hernia repair through our FHRP from 2016 to 2024. Basic demographics obtained. Survey questions included: New bulge since surgery; Still experiencing pain at the hernia site; Return to work since surgery; Surgery-related complications; Satisfaction with the free hernia repair program. Descriptive statistics were utilized.

Results: Ninety-one patients underwent hernia repair. 59(64.8 ​%) patients participated in the survey. Majority of patients were Hispanic/Latinx. 5.1 ​% reported a bulge post-operatively without true hernia recurrence. 45.8 ​% reported ongoing pain, but tolerable. 86.4 ​% returned to work, but 100 ​% were back to full activities of daily living. Zero reported post-operative complications and 98.3 ​% were satisfied with the FHRP experience.

Conclusion: Our FHRP greatly improves quality of life for hernia patients.