Related Experiment Video
Updated: Apr 11, 2026
09:22
Fabricating Superhydrophobic Polymeric Materials for Biomedical Applications
Published on: August 28, 2015
19.8K
Morphologic Evaluation of Post-implanted Monofilament Polypropylene Mesh Utilizing a Novel Technique with Scanning
Ali Azadi1, Sourav S Patnaik2, Jacek B Jasinski3
1Norton Women's Specialists - Urogynecology, Norton Health Care, Louisville, Kentucky.
Surgical Technology International
|June 10, 2015
Summary
Polypropylene mesh explanted after two years shows significant structural changes, including deep cracks and fiber peeling. Understanding these morphological alterations is crucial for improving surgical techniques and patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Biomaterials science
- Surgical innovation
Background:
- Polypropylene mesh is widely used in surgical repairs.
- Known to shrink significantly, but other in-vivo changes are poorly understood.
- Clinical impact of mesh degradation remains unclear.
Observation:
- Surgically explanted polypropylene mesh (2-year implantation) was analyzed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM).
- Novel quantification techniques for mesh degradation were developed and applied.
- SEM revealed significant morphological changes, including deep fiber cracking, peeling, and associated fibrosis.
Findings:
- Deep transverse and longitudinal cracks were observed on the mesh surface.
- Quantification showed cracks covered 24.2% of the surface area.
- Average crack dimensions ranged from 0.58–71.46 µm in length and 0.99–25.46 µm in thickness.
Implications:
- Polypropylene mesh undergoes substantial structural degradation in vivo.
- Further research is needed to correlate these changes with clinical outcomes.
- Validated quantification methods will aid in developing improved surgical grafts.
