Efficacy of biological versus synthetic meshes in laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials

In laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair, synthetic meshes are widely used but carry risks such as chronic pain and a foreign body sensation. Biological meshes, as emerging materials, have not yet reached a consensus regarding their clinical effectiveness compared to synthetic meshes. A systematic search of English and Chinese databases was conducted for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) up to January 25, 2026, comparing the clinical outcomes of biological and synthetic meshes in laparoscopic in