title: Shrinkage and biomechanical evaluation of lightweight synthetics in a rabbit model for primary fascial repair.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The experiment evaluated different lightweights (<32 g/m(2)) in terms of shrinkage and biomechanics.
  
  
  METHODS
  PP-8 (polypropylene of 7.6 g/m(2)), PP-s (PP-8 with absorbable sheets), PP-32 (PP with absorbable fibers; 32.0 g/m(2)) and polyvinylidinefluoride (PVDF; 24.9 g/m(2)) augmented primary sutured repairs of the anterior abdominal wall in a total of 40 rabbits. Rabbits were implanted by only one type of mesh at four abdominal sites. After 7, 14, 30, 60 and 120 days, 2 rabbits were sacrificed per group. Three additional unoperated rabbits were used as controls. Shrinkage and uni-axial tensiometry were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  PP-s implants wrinkled in 70%. PP-32 did not shrink whereas PP-8 and PVDF shrank by 20%. Explants were as strong as the controls; however, they differed in compliance. At lower stress, the tested materials were equally stiff.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The biomechanical behaviour of the tested lightweights does not mimic that of native controls. Weight reduction does not prevent shrinkage.
authors.affiliation: Center for Surgical Technologies, Faculty of Medicine, Universitair Ziekenhuis Gasthuisberg Leuven, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Minderbroedersstraat 19, Box 1034, 3000 Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ozog
authors.forename: Maja L
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Konstantinovic
authors.forename: Erika
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Werbrouck
authors.forename: Dirk
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: De Ridder
authors.forename: Mazza
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Edoardo
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Deprest
mesh_terms: D034861:Abdominal Wall / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D000818:Animals; D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D001696:Biomechanical Phenomena; D005205:Fascia / Q000473:pathology; D000071938:Fasciotomy; D005355:Fibrosis / Q000209:etiology; D008422:Materials Testing; D011126:Polypropylenes; D011145:Polyvinyls; D011817:Rabbits; D013526:Surgical Mesh / Q000009:adverse effects; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers
chemical_list: D001672:Biocompatible Materials; D011126:Polypropylenes; D011145:Polyvinyls; C024865:polyvinylidene fluoride; D005465:Fluorocarbon Polymers