InguinoScrotal Hernias: Comparison of Minimally Invasive Approaches and Open Surgical Repair (The SCAR Study)

Introduction: Inguinal hernia repair is one of the most common surgical procedures performed worldwide. Minimally invasive approaches (laparoscopic and robotic) are increasingly recommended owing to their favorable postoperative outcomes. However, their use in inguinoscrotal hernias remains limited. This study aims to evaluate and compare clinical outcomes of minimally invasive and open approaches in inguinoscrotal hernia repair. Methods and analysis: This national multicenter prospective observational cohort study will include patients undergoing elective or urgent repair of European Hernia Society-classified inguinoscrotal hernias (S1-S3) using open, laparoscopic, or robotic techniques. Adults (>18 years) from various hospitals in Madrid will be recruited. Data on patient demographics, intraoperative variables, postoperative complications, postoperative pain (Visual Analog Scale score), quality of life, and hernia recurrence over a 2-year follow-up will be collected. A minimum of 100 patients (50 per group) is required for detecting statistically significant differences, assuming 5% loss to follow-up. Ethics and dissemination: The HM Hospitales Ethics Committee has approved the study protocol. Written informed consent will be obtained from all participants. Results will be submitted to peer-reviewed journals and presented at national surgical conferences.