ZenToks Publication

Chapter 24

The Desarda Inguinal Hernia Repair: A Review

Abstract/Preface

Inguinal hernia repair ranks among the most frequently performed surgical procedures globally. While mesh-based techniques, such as the Lichtenstein repair, have become the standard treatment due to their low recurrence rates, concerns about mesh-related complications, including chronic groin pain, infection, foreign body sensation, and cost, have prompted interest in non-mesh alternatives. The Desarda technique, introduced by Mohan P. Desarda in 2001, is a tissue-based, tension-free repair that employs an undetached strip of the external oblique aponeurosis to reinforce the posterior wall of the inguinal canal. This approach aims to integrate the benefits of a tension-free repair while avoiding the use of prosthetic materials. Current evidence indicates that the Desarda repair offers recurrence rates, postoperative pain outcomes, and recovery profiles comparable to those of mesh-based repairs in selected patients. This chapter evaluates the clinical outcomes, advantages, limitations, and contemporary role of the Desarda repair in inguinal hernia surgery.