title: Tensile properties of commonly used prolapse meshes.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To improve our understanding of the differences in commonly used synthetic prolapse meshes, we compared four newer generation meshes to Gynecare PS using a tensile testing protocol. We hypothesize that the newer meshes have inferior biomechanical properties.
  
  
  METHODS
  Meshes were loaded to failure (n = 5 per group) generating load-elongation curves from which the stiffness, the load at failure, and the relative elongation were determined. Additional mesh samples (n = 3) underwent a cyclic loading protocol to measure permanent elongation in response to subfailure loading.
  
  
  RESULTS
  With the exception of Popmesh, which displayed uniform stiffness, other meshes were characterized by a bilinear behavior. Newer meshes were 70-90% less stiff than Gynecare (p < 0.05) and more readily deformed in response to uniaxial and cyclical loading (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Relative to Gynecare, the newer generation of prolapse meshes were significantly less stiff, with irreversible deformation at significantly lower loads.
authors.affiliation: Magee-Womens Research Institute, Division of Female Pelvic Medicine and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences at Magee-Womens Hospital, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: Keisha A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Jones
authors.forename: Andrew
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Feola
authors.forename: Leslie
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Meyn
authors.forename: Steven D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Abramowitch
authors.forename: Pamela A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Moalli
mesh_terms: D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D004868:Equipment Failure; D005260:Female; D013509:Gynecologic Surgical Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D006801:Humans; D008422:Materials Testing / Q000379:methods*; D013526:Surgical Mesh / Q000592:standards*; D013718:Tensile Strength; D014596:Uterine Prolapse / Q000601:surgery*