title: Incisional hernia repair: tensiometry for the selection of the appropriate procedure.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To audit the early and late results of repairs of incisional hernias before and after the introduction of peroperative tensiometry.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University hospital, Germany.
  
  
  METHODS
  675 operations on 553 patients in 18 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Before we introduced tensiometry we closed 560 incisional hernias by direct suture and 63 by the inlay-onlay technique. Since we took up tensiometry the numbers were 9 and 43, respectively.
  
  
  METHODS
  Postoperative complications including recurrences.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Recurrences developed in 246/560 (44%) after direct suture in the early series, compared with 2/9 (22%) after adoption of tensiometry. After inlay-onlay operations there were 4/63 (6%) recurrences before, and 1/43 (2%) after adoption of tensiometry.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Tensiometry allows the surgeon to tailor his operation to the conditions that he finds during the operation.
authors.affiliation: University Department of Surgery, Erlangen, at the Friedrich-Alexander-University, Erlangen-Nürnberg, Germany.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Reingruber
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kastl
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stremmel
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Klein
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000601:surgery*; D006555:Hernia, Ventral / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D011126:Polypropylenes; D012008:Recurrence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D013536:Suture Techniques; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014945:Wound Healing / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D011126:Polypropylenes