Over a period of ten years, from 1980 to 1989, 701 hernioplasties were performed in 592 patients. 582 of these patients were available for follow-up examination (83%). The average follow-up was 10.3 years, median 10.2 years. The recurrence rate was 12%, 8% of the recurrences occurred after hernioplasties performed by specialists, and 13% after operations performed by surgeons in training. The results are discussed. The authors briefly review recent developments in hernia surgery.