Outcomes of interest
| Outcome | No. of studies/ patients | Estimated effect (95% CI) | I2, % |
|---|---|---|---|
| Total sample | |||
| Age (13)– (21) | 9/1244 | MD 0.47 (−0.18 to 1.11) | 0 |
| Operative time (14)– (19) | 7/1082 | MD 7.00 (0.53 to 13.48) | 99 |
| Wound infection (13)– (21) | 8/1182 | OR 0.65 (0.41 to 1.04) | 18 |
| Wound dehiscence (14)– (19) | 6/990 | OR 0.60 (0.20 to 1.81) | 72 |
| Hematoma (14)– (19) | 5/870 | OR 1.63 (0.76 to 3.51) | 0 |
| Seroma (14)– (20) | 7/1170 | Peto OR 0.36 (0.24 to 0.56) | 19 |
| High-quality seroma studies (14)– (16), (19) | 4/604 | Peto OR 0.76 (0.31 to 1.85) | 25 |
| Recurrence (14)– (19) | 6/1011 | OR 0.88 (0.38 to 2.04) | 94 |
| Length of hospital stay (14)– (19) | 7/1112 | MD −0.07 (−0.45 to 0.30) | 97 |
| Time to return to work (14)– (19) | 8/1212 | MD 0.33 (−0.99 to 1.66) | 94 |
| Patient satisfaction rate (14), (19) | 6/990 | OR 0.83 (0.34 to 2.01) | 75 |
| Subgroup analysis, modified Limberg flap | |||
| Wound infection (14), (17), (18), (20) | 4/556 | OR 0.91 (0.42 to 1.94) | 0 |
| Wound dehiscence (14), (17), (18) | 3/464 | OR 0.70 (0.13 to 3.84) | 75 |
| Seroma (14), (17), (18), (20) | 4/644 | OR 0.33 (0.99 to 0.57) | 0 |
| Recurrence (14), (17), (18), (20) | 4/556 | OR 0.77 (0.22 to 2.63) | 48 |
| Length of hospital stay (14), (17), (18) | 3/436 | MD −0.00 (−0.12 to 0.12) | 45 |
| Time to return to work (14), (17), (18) | 3/436 | MD 0.37 (−2.04 to 2.77) | 72 |
CI = confidence interval; MD = mean difference; OR = odds ratio.