ArticleHernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery2020
Litigation claims following laparoscopic and open inguinal hernia repairs.
Article in Hernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.
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5 citing papers in PubMed.
- Economic claims following chronic pain after inguinal hernia repair.Hernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery · 2026Article
- Civil medical liability in general surgery: A systematic review.Surgery open science · 2026Review
- Patient's Perception of the Role of Gym Activity in Abdominal Wall Herniation in Adults: A Prospective Study.Sports medicine - open · 2024Article
- Article
- Where is the nerve? Review of operation note documentation practice for inguinal hernia repair.Annals of the Royal College of Surgeons of England · 2021Article
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3 authors.
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Abstract
purposeGroin hernia repair is the most frequently performed general surgical operation in the UK. Complications from laparoscopic and open repair are well recognised; however, potential differences are yet to be considered in relation to litigation.
methodsAdministrative data were obtained and analysed from the NHS Litigation Authority for inguinal hernia-related claims from 1995 to 2016. Claims identified as using an open or laparoscopic approach were compared.
results880 claims were made, 760 had been settled. 88 laparoscopic and 241 open procedures were identified; 65% laparoscopic and 63% open hernia claims were found to be in favour of the claimant. Payouts totalled to 4.1GBP/4.8EUR/5.3USD million and 9.4GBP/11.0EUR/12.1USD million for laparoscopic (mean 82,824GBP/96,579EUR/106,453USD) and open (mean 66,796GBP/77,892EUR/85,852USD) approaches, respectively. The most common reasons for claim initiation were visceral/vascular injury (54%) in the laparoscopic group, and testicular complications or chronic pain (35%) in the open group. Additional procedures were necessary for 48% and 44% of laparoscopic and open claims, respectively. The highest average payouts were associated with visceral injury, (laparoscopic 116,482GBP/135,820EUR/149,715USD; open 199,103GBP/232,246EUR/255,905USD) and vascular injury (laparoscopic 88,624GBP/103,369EUR/113,892USD; open 64,460GBP/75,163EUR/82,870USD). Additional procedures resulted in an average payout of 93,352GBP/108,917EUR/120,008USD (laparoscopic) and 60,408GBP/70,506EUR/77,657USD (open). The most common additional procedures were corrective visceral/vascular repairs, orchidectomy and recurrent hernia repair.
conclusionsThe rate of litigation for clinical negligence in inguinal hernia surgery in the UK is increasing. Whilst there has been a recent increase in laparoscopic hernia repair claims, the volume and burden of claims related to open procedures remain greater.
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