Novel Approach for Umbilical Hernia Repair Using Mesh Strips
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 1, 2025
Application of a New Mesh Fixation Method in Laparoscopic Incisional Hernia Repair
Published on: December 23, 2022
Simon Moradian1, Julian L Klosowiak1, Michael J Boctor1
1Department of Surgery, Division of Plastic Surgery, Northwestern Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Ill.
Abstract:
Umbilical hernia repair is a common surgical procedure without a universally accepted means of repair. We introduce a novel surgical technique for open primary umbilical hernia repair, using strips of polypropylene mesh as sutures to achieve a repair.
Methods:
Two-centimeter-wide strips of macroporous polypropylene mesh were passed through the abdominal wall and tied as simple interrupted sutures to achieve umbilical hernia repair. A retrospective review of all elective umbilical hernia repairs performed by a single surgeon using the mesh strip technique between 2016 and 2021 was conducted, and patient-reported outcomes were assessed via a telephonic survey.
Results:
Thirty-three patients underwent an elective, open mesh strip repair of a primary umbilical hernia and met criteria for inclusion in the study. Of these patients, 60% responded to a patient-reported outcomes telephone survey. Ninety percent of survey responders reported a pain score of 0 of 10. Additionally, 90% reported being unable to feel or palpate the knot, and 80% reported an improvement in quality of life. Mean follow-up at 3 years revealed one recurrence in the setting of ascites, yielding a recurrence rate of 3%.
Conclusion:
Primary mesh strip repair of umbilical hernias combines the simplicity of suture repair with the advantageous force distribution properties of mesh, and constitutes a safe, efficient, and effective method of repair with a low recurrence rate at long-term follow-up that is comparable to planar mesh repair.
