Berlin 1996.

Methods	Eligible patients were randomised by computer randomisation.
Participants	240 patients who were operated on for primary inguinal hernia were entered into the study. Patients with contraindications for general anaesthesia, cardiac insufficiency, age under 18 years , and coagulation disorders as well as incarcerated hernia were excluded from the study.
Interventions	Laparoscopic versus open mesh versus open non‐mesh inguinal hernia repair. Laparoscopic group: (n=80) repair performed by the TAPP technique. All patients were given general anaesthesia. Open mesh group: (n=80) repair performed by the plug and patch repair. Patients chose between general or local anaesthesia. Open non‐mesh: (n=80) repair performed using the Shouldice technique. Patients chose between general or local anaesthesia.
Outcomes	Included data items: Operating time (minutes) Intraoperative complications Postoperative pain (day 1) Postoperative complications Hospital stay (days) Limitation of daily activities (days) Hernia recurrence Other data items: Use of analgesia (days) Return to work (days) Costs
Notes	There are 2 publications for this trial (one in English and one in German).
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Allocation concealment?	Unclear risk	B ‐ Unclear