Abstract: Objective:To compare the clinical effects of Lichtenstein,Rutkow and Millikan procedures on inguinal hernia repair.Methods:Thirty-eight patients received mesh tension-free hernioplasty (Lichtenstein procedure),forty-seven patients mesh-plug tension-free hernioplasty (Rutkow procedure) and twenty-eight patients modified mesh-plug tension-free hernioplasty (Millikan procedure).The operation time,postoperative pain,time of hospital stay,time to return to work,cost,postoperative complication and recurrent rate were compared among the three groups.Results:There was no significant difference in operation time,postoperative pain,time of hospital stay,time to return to work,postoperative complication and recurrent rate among the three groups (P>0.05).However,Lichtenstein group had a significantly lower cost than the other two groups (P<0.01).Rutkow group had a higher incidence of foreign body sensation than the other two groups (P<0.01).Conclusions:The three types of tension-free hernioplasty are all effective in treatment of primary monolateral inguinal hernia.Lichtenstein hernioplasty is more comfortable and cost-effective,and so is the choice procedure for repair of primary inguinal hernia.