Comparison 1. Glue versus suture.

Outcome or subgroup title	No. of studies	No. of participants	Statistical method	Effect size
1 Chronic pain	10	1473	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.63 [0.44, 0.91]
1.1 Synthetic glue versus suture	7	945	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.69 [0.46, 1.04]
1.2 Biological glue versus suture	3	528	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.46 [0.20, 1.03]
2 Hernia recurrence	12	1987	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.44 [0.63, 3.28]
2.1 Synthetic glue versus suture	8	991	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.58 [0.62, 4.05]
2.2 Biological glue versus suture	4	996	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.02 [0.17, 5.90]
3 Duration of operation (mins)	9	1790	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐3.13 [‐4.48, ‐1.78]
3.1 Synthetic glue versus suture	6	904	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐3.67 [‐6.10, ‐1.24]
3.2 Biological glue versus suture	3	886	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐2.72 [‐3.67, ‐1.77]
4 Wound/superficial infection	7	818	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.23 [0.37, 4.11]
4.1 Synthetic glue versus suture	5	606	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.23 [0.37, 4.11]
4.2 Biological glue versus suture	2	212	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.0 [0.0, 0.0]
5 Mesh/deep infection	8	1448	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.67 [0.16, 2.83]
5.1 Synthetic glue versus suture	5	768	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	1.0 [0.06, 16.14]
5.2 Biological glue versus suture	3	680	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.58 [0.11, 3.19]
6 Haematoma	10	1439	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.52 [0.31, 0.86]
6.1 Synthetic glue versus suture	7	911	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.54 [0.32, 0.91]
6.2 Biological glue versus suture	3	528	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.33 [0.05, 2.13]
7 Seroma	8	1239	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.83 [0.51, 1.33]
7.1 Synthetic glue versus suture	4	243	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.74 [0.14, 4.02]
7.2 Biological glue versus suture	4	996	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.83 [0.51, 1.37]
8 Persisting numbness	4	728	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.81 [0.57, 1.14]
8.1 Synthetic glue versus suture	2	310	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.78 [0.46, 1.32]
8.2 Biological glue versus suture	2	418	Odds Ratio (M‐H, Fixed, 95% CI)	0.82 [0.52, 1.31]
9 Postoperative length of hospital stay (days)	6	1009	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.12 [‐0.35, 0.10]
9.1 Synthetic glue versus suture	5	541	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐0.21 [‐0.54, 0.12]
9.2 Biological glue versus suture	1	468	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	0.0 [‐0.00, 0.00]
10 Recovery time to daily activities (days)	3	403	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.26 [‐1.89, ‐0.63]
10.1 Synthetic glue versus suture	2	87	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.87 [‐2.86, ‐0.88]
10.2 Biological glue versus suture	1	316	Mean Difference (IV, Random, 95% CI)	‐1.0 [‐1.26, ‐0.74]