Fascial Closure and the Occurrence of Port-Site Hernia After Laparoscopic Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Background/Objectives: Port-site hernia (PSH) is a known complication of laparoscopic and robotic surgery, but whether routine fascial closure reduces this risk remains unclear. We examined the association between fascial closure and PSH compared with non-closure.

Methods

This systematic review and meta-analysis followed PRISMA and was registered in PROSPERO (CRD420251274471). Embase, MEDLINE, APA PsycInfo, Global Health, and HMIC were searched for English-language studies up to 7 March 2026. Randomized trials and comparative observational studies reporting PSH after fascial closure versus non-closure were included. Non-comparative studies and studies without extractable PSH data were excluded. We used random-effects meta-analysis, RoB 2 and ROBINS-I for risk of bias, and GRADE to assess certainty of evidence.