The repair of inguinal hernias using carbon fibre patches--a five-year follow-up.
One hundred and eight inguinal hernias were treated following a standard surgical technique, using 3-mm thick loosely woven carbon-fibre patches.  The average follow-up was five and a half years.  There was one recurrence.  Otherwise, excellent clinical results without pain were found in all but one patient and only a further three experienced a slight discomfort in the area of the implant, without any restriction on function.  The technique is simple and permeation of the carbon-fibre patch by fibrous tissue showed a lasting repair.
Department of Medical Physics, Dryburn Hospital, Durham, UK.
R J
RJ
Minns
M B
MB
Claque
R
R
Ward
P J
PJ
Cullen
G H
GH
Dunstone
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002244:Carbon / Q000737:chemistry*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006552:Hernia, Inguinal / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008422:Materials Testing; D008875:Middle Aged; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D013536:Suture Techniques; D013718:Tensile Strength