Appendix 1. CENTRAL search strategy

#1 MeSH descriptor Hernia, Inguinal explode all trees                                    

#2 (inguina* near hernia):ti,ab,kw                      

#3 (#1 OR #2)                      

#4 MeSH descriptor Surgical Mesh explode all trees                                    

#5 (mesh):ti,ab,kw                      

#6 (#4 OR #5)                      

#7 (#3 AND #6)                

Appendix 2. MEDLINE search strategy

1. exp Hernia, Inguinal/

2. (inguina* adj hernia).mp.

3. 1 or 2

4. exp Surgical Mesh/

5. mesh.mp.

6. 4 or 5

7. 3 and 6

8. randomized controlled trial.pt.

9. controlled clinical trial.pt.

10. randomized.ab.

11. placebo.ab.

12. clinical trial.sh.

13. randomly.ab.

14. trial.ti.

15. 8 or 9 or 10 or 11 or 12 or 13 or 14

16. humans.sh.

17. 15 and 16

18. 7 and 17

Appendix 3. EMBASE search strategy

1. exp inguinal hernia/

2. (inguina* adj hernia).mp.

3. 1 or 2

4. mesh.mp.

5. 3 and 4

6. randomized controlled trial/

7. randomization/

8. controlled study/

9. multicenter study/

10. phase 3 clinical trial/

11. phase 4 clinical trial/

12. double blind procedure/

13. single blind procedure/

14. ((singl* or doubl* or trebl* or tripl*) adj (blind* or mask*)).ti,ab.

15. (random* or cross* over* or factorial* or placebo* or volunteer*).ti,ab.

16. 11 or 8 or 12 or 14 or 7 or 13 or 9 or 6 or 15 or 10

17. "human*".ti,ab.

18. (animal* or nonhuman*).ti,ab.

19. 18 and 17

20. 18 not 19

21. 16 not 20

22. 5 and 21