Robotic-assisted groin hernia repair shows higher long-term recurrence than laparoscopic or open methods, raising questions about its value.

• 5-year recurrence rates: robotic 3.78%, open 3.37%, laparoscopic 3.21%.
• Laparoscopic repairs significantly reduce recurrence compared to open surgery (hazard ratio 0.75).

Surgeons should weigh the recurrence rates when considering robotic assistance for hernia repairs.

• Robotic procedures increased 8.6-fold from 2010 to 2021, while open surgeries dropped significantly.