Bietigheim 1998.

Methods	Patients were allocated strictly at random.
Participants	280 male patients with primary inguinal hernia.
Interventions	Laparoscopic versus open mesh versus open non‐mesh inguinal hernia repair. Laparoscopic group: (n=93) repair performed by the TAPP technique. All patients were given general anaesthesia. Open mesh group: (n=93) repair performed by the Lichtenstein repair. All patients were given general anaesthesia. Open non mesh group: (n=94) repair performed by the Shouldice repair. All patients were given general anaesthesia.
Outcomes	Included data items: Operation time (minutes) Postoperative complications Return to work (days) Hernia recurrence Other data items: Use of analgesia Return to sport (days)
Notes	Published in German.
Risk of bias
Bias	Authors' judgement	Support for judgement
Allocation concealment?	Unclear risk	B ‐ Unclear