Table 2.

Influence of clinical examination and groin ultrasonography findings on surgical decision-making

Scenario	No. (%) of groins n = 476
Underwent inguinal hernia repair (S+)	315 (66.2)
Clinically detectable hernia leading to surgery (CE+, S+) (n = 364)	310 (85.2)
Hernia detected by routine US leading to surgery (independent of CE findings) (CE+/−, US+, S+) (n = 310)	202 (65.2)
Clinical examination significantly affected decision to treat surgically (CE +/−, S+/−)	390 (81.9)
Positive US findings leading to surgery in absence of positive CE findings (CE−, US+, S+) (n = 103)	5 (4.8)
Routine US significantly affected decision to treat surgically (US+, S+) (n = 336)	5 (1.5)

CE = clinical examination; S = surgery; US = ultrasonography.