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Updated: Aug 5, 2026
Transcorporal Artificial Urinary Sphincter Cuff Placement in a Case Requiring Revision for Urethral Atrophy
Published on: June 16, 2022
Complications of silicone sling insertion for stress urinary incontinence
1Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Good Hope Hospital, Sutton Coldfield, West Midlands, United Kingdom.
Purpose:
A pilot study was performed to evaluate the suitability of silicone as a substance for suburethral sling placement. Using rectus sheath for sling placement can be time-consuming and can result in increased morbidity. Adjustable synthetic materials of consistent strength are available. Silicone has previously been used successfully and was chosen for this trial.
Materials And Methods:
Slings were inserted in 7 women with stress urinary incontinence. Of the patients 3 had a history of continence surgery and presented with reduced vaginal mobility, and 2 who had not previously undergone continence surgery had intrinsic sphincter deficiency.
Results:
In all women stress urinary incontinence was subjectively cured. However, after 7 slings were inserted the study was terminated due to a high complication rate related to erosion and sinus formation in 5 slings which were removed. Complications developed immediately or up to 11 months after sling insertion. Continence was maintained in 4 of the 5 women after the slings were removed.
Conclusions:
Silicone is an inappropriate material for suburethral sling placement when used as described in our cases, caution should be exercised when placing silicone slings at this site.
