Time-dependent changes in biomechanical properties of four different synthetic materials in a rabbit model and the importance in respect to sling surgery.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the time-dependent biomechanical properties of four different implanted synthetic materials.


METHODS
18 New Zealand rabbits were randomly categorized into three groups: group 1 to be evaluated at the 2nd week, group 2 at the 8th week, and group 3 at the 12th week. Before the implantation, baseline values were obtained. Each of the 2 x 5 cm sized materials of mersilene, prolene, ultrapro and vypro mesh were placed in the anterior abdominal fascia. The mesh materials were removed, tensile strength (N/mm(2)) and ultimate strain (%) were measured by tensinometry and surface area losses (cm(2)) were calculated.


RESULTS
Tensile strength values (mean +/- SD) were 9.2 +/- 1.5, 8.5 +/- 1.2 for mersilene, 25.2 +/- 7.3, 14.0 +/- 2.9 for prolene, 2.2 +/- 0.6, 12.5 +/- 1.4 for ultrapro and 8.1 +/- 1.6, 7.0 +/- 1.8 for vypro at baseline and the 12th week. Ultimate strain values (mean +/- SD) were 131.2 +/- 46.1, 110.4 +/- 98.6 for mersilene, 181.0 +/- 26.4, 78.5 +/- 14.4 for prolene, 91.5 +/- 8.2, 89.6 +/- 20.5 for ultrapro and 84.3 +/- 8.9, 55.0 +/- 13.2 for vypro at baseline and the 12th week. Surface areas (mean +/- SD) were 8.87 +/- 0.14, 9.38 +/- 0.17, 8.4 +/- 0.32 and 8.76 +/- 0.16 for mersilene, prolene, ultrapro and vypro at the 12th week respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Although prolene mesh demonstrated a decrease in its tensile strength it still remains the highest at the 12th week. Considering the significant time-dependent increase in its tensile strength, ultrapro mesh should be studied in humans. A final decision on the preference of ultrapro mesh in sling surgery could be reached after such studies.
Atmaca
Ali Fuat
AF
Urology Clinic, Ankara Atatürk Training and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey. alifuatatmaca@yahoo.com
Serefoğlu
Ege Can
EC
Eroğlu
Muzaffer
M
Gürdal
Mesut
M
Metin
Ahmet
A
Kayigil
Onder
O
D000818:Animals; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D007249:Inflammation; D008422:Materials Testing; D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates / Q000737:chemistry; D011098:Polyglactin 910 / Q000737:chemistry; D011126:Polypropylenes / Q000737:chemistry; D019736:Prostheses and Implants; D011817:Rabbits; D013526:Surgical Mesh; D013718:Tensile Strength; D013997:Time Factors; D014549:Urinary Incontinence / Q000473:pathology*
D011093:Polyethylene Terephthalates; D011126:Polypropylenes; C510058:VyproII; C025539:Lavsan; D011098:Polyglactin 910