In a study in 160 men with asymptomatic inguinal herniae randomized to surgery (mesh repair) vs. observation; at 1-year, intent-to-treat analysis showed no sig. diff. in pain level though general health status (on SF-36) was sig. better in the surgery group (Ann. Surg. 244:167, 2006--JW)
In a study in 724 men with minimally symptomatic inguinal hernia randomized to watchful waiting or open hernia repair; over 2y f/u, there were no sig. diffs between the groups in pain. The incidence of hernia incarceration was 1.8 per 1000 patient-years (JAMA 295:285, 2006--JW)