The best operative technique in female inguinal hernia is not known. Some register studies recommend always laparoscopic hernia repair in females, but there are no randomized studies to show that laparoscopic repair is better than open hernioplasty. Our study compares operative complications, chronic pain and recurrences in Lichtenstein operation to totally endoscopic hernia repair (TEP) in 170 female patients with primary inguinal hernia. The patients are operated in six Finnish hospitals, randomized into 85 Lichtenstein vs 85 TEP and followed 1 week, 4 weeks, 12 months and 5 years. Main end-point in postoperative pain after one year, sencondary endpoints are sick leave, return to normal physical activity, complications of treatment, re-operations, chronic pain and costs of treatment.
This randomized study compares open inguinal hernia repair (Lichtenstein hernioplasty) to endoscopic repair (TEP) in terms of chronic pain and recurrences in one and five years after operation.