IMPACT OF HELPER ORIFICES IN MONOFILAMENT MESHES ON THE TENSILE STRENGTH AT THE INTERFACE: IN VIVO STUDY

The use of meshes, especially for the anterior vaginal compartment is now well established. However few studies addressed in vivo properties, mainly the tensile strength at the interface. The major concern relates to healing problems, mainly mesh exposure. High weight meshes are not prone to shrinkage and had good Velcro-like effect, but on the other hand erosion to the vagina may be a problem. In order to facilitate integration of the graft and reduce its weight, orifices of 5 mm in diameter were made in a monofilament polypropylene mesh and the tensile strength at the interface was evaluated in an animal model.