Alloplasty of the anterior abdominal wall: is implant fixation necessary?

Introduction. Due to the paucity of scientific studies on alloplasty techniques for postoperative anterior abdominal wall hernias, further research is needed and important.

The purpose of the study. To compare in an acute experiment the biomechanical results of alloplasty with and without mesh implant fixation.

Materials and methods of research. 18 laboratory rats of Standard breed, weighing 400±50 g, were used as biological models in the experiment. In the experimental operating room under general anesthesia in aseptic conditions the animals underwent alloplasty with a mesh implant (Esfil, RF) according to the sublay technology. Two observation groups were formed (9 operated rats in each group) depending on the method of alloplasty. In the 1st group alloplasty with fixation of the implant with through U-shaped sutures was performed. In the 2nd group the implant was not fixed in the retromuscular bed. On the 21st day the material was taken for biomechanical study. The biomechanical properties were assessed by means of a tensile machine «INSTRON-5944».

Results. It was found that the difference in biomechanical indices after modeling prosthetic alloplasty with two different techniques (with and without fixation) was not statistically significant in the area of elastic-plastic deformations.

Conclusion. In the experiment it was proved that the biomechanical strength of separation alloplasty does not depend on the method of fixation of the implant to the abdominal muscles.

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