Use of the Desarda Technique versus the Lichtenstein Technique for the Repair of Unilateral Inguinal Hernia: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

This meta-analysis was conducted to compare the effectiveness of the non-mesh Desarda technique (DT) with the mesh-based Lichtenstein technique (LT) for the repair of unilateral inguinal hernia. A meta-analysis was performed on the Desarda group (DG) and Lichtenstein group (LG) studies. A detailed literature search was conducted on PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar for comparative studies between Lichtenstein and Desarda techniques for the repair of unilateral inguinal hernia. The data for the primary outcomes and one secondary outcome, i.e., time taken to return to normal gait, was reported in the form of mean difference with 95% confidence interval, and inverse variance was used as the statistical method. For the remaining secondary outcomes, Mantel–Haenszel was used as the statistical method. The effect measure was reported as a risk ratio at a confidence interval of 95%. There was no significant difference in seroma formation, recurrence, postoperative infection, scrotal edema formation, hematoma formation, time taken to return to normal gait, and foreign body sensation between the two groups. A significant difference was seen in the duration of hospital stay (MD = − 0.97, p < 0.00001, I² = 95%), intraoperative time (MD = − 8.75, p < 0.00001, I² = 100%), and time taken to return to normal activities (MD = − 2.19, p < 0.00001, I² = 92%), all in the favor of DG. DT was found to be superior to LT in terms of reducing duration of hospital stay, intraoperative time, and time taken to return to normal activities. For the remaining outcomes, there was no significant difference between the two groups.