ArticleBJS open2026
Long-term outcomes of Lichtenstein and laparoscopic primary unilateral inguinal hernia repair: registry-based propensity score-matched analysis.
Article in BJS open, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 3 papers.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
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Who cites it
3 citing papers in PubMed.
- Tailor-made approach for ambulatory open groin hernia repair: our experience of over 7000 cases.Surgery today · 2026Article
- Who will repair the next open inguinal hernia? Educational consequences of declining open surgery volumes.Hernia : the journal of hernias and abdominal wall surgery · 2026Article
- Mesh-fixation combinations and chronic postoperative inguinal pain after laparoscopic groin hernia repair: nationwide cohort study.BJS open · 2026Article
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6 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundLaparoscopic (transabdominal preperitoneal (TAPP) and totally extraperitoneal (TEP)) and Lichtenstein procedures are the most commonly used approaches for primary unilateral inguinal hernia repair. However, only limited long-term data are available to compare the outcomes of these techniques, particularly from large cohorts. The aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term results of Lichtenstein and laparoscopic primary unilateral hernia repairs based on data from the Herniamed registry.
methodsAll patients registered in the Herniamed registry were included between 5 January 2009 and 4 October 2024. At the 5-year follow-up, a propensity score matched analysis was performed comparing Lichtenstein versus TEP, Lichtenstein versus TAPP, and TEP versus TAPP.
resultsIn all, 109 130 patients with primary unilateral inguinal hernia and 5-year follow-up data were included in the study. Propensity score matching revealed 21 889, 27 439, and 29 475 matched pairs for comparisons of Lichtenstein versus TEP, Lichtenstein versus TAPP, and TEP versus TAPP, respectively. Lichtenstein repair had more general complications compared with TEP (1.2 versus 0.9%; P = 0.002), postoperative complications (3.4 versus 1.7%; P < 0.001), complication-related reoperations (1.0 versus 0.5%; P < 0.001), pain on exertion (6.7 versus 4.2%; P < 0.001), pain at rest (3.2 versus 2.3%; P < 0.001), pain requiring treatment (1.8 versus 1.3%; P < 0.001), and seroma (1.2 versus 0.9%; P < 0.001); discordant cases in matched-pair analyses. However, intraoperative complications were lower for Lichtenstein compared with TEP procedure (0.8% versus 1.0%; P = 0.038). Lichtenstein repair had more general complications compared with TAPP (1.2 versus 0.9%; P = 0.002), postoperative complications (3.5 versus 1.9%; P < 0.001), complication-related reoperations (1.0 versus 0.5%; P < 0.001), pain on exertion (6.3 versus 4.1%; P < 0.001), pain at rest (3.1 versus 2.2%; P < 0.001), and pain requiring treatment (1.8 versus 1.3%; P < 0.001).
conclusionIn the evaluation of long-term results, laparoscopic techniques have advantages over the Lichtenstein procedure in primary unilateral inguinal hernia repair with regard to postoperative complications and chronic pain.
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