Computed tomography options in the evaluation of hernia repair outcomes using "titanium silk" mesh implants

Background: According to experimental studies, mesh implants may reduce in size up to 50.8% during their integration into soft tissues. This results in impaired mobility of the anterior abdominal wall and hernia recurrences, as well as affects patients' quality of life. Due to unsatisfactory radiographic contrast of polymeric mesh implants, changes in their size can be rarely confirmed using imaging methods. Medical devices made of metal alloys have the best radiographic contrast.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the radiographic contrast of mesh implants made of titanium filaments and to determine the sizes and locations of the implants after the anterior abdominal wall hernia repair.

Materials & methods: The study included 40 patients with inguinal, umbilical, and postoperative ventral hernias. Surgical hernia repair was performed using a mash implant made of titanium filaments, "titanium silk". Multislice spiral computed tomography (MSCT) was performed on Days 3 and 90 after surgery, followed by an assessment of the size and location of the mesh implant.

Results: 90 days after the anterior abdominal wall hernia repair, the locations of the titanium silk mesh implants in the tissues corresponded to their intraoperative setting. There were no statistically significant changes in the sizes of mesh implants on Day 90, compared with Day 3.

Conclusion: The titanium silk mesh implants have satisfactory radiographic contrast, which allows imaging of their location and size in the tissues using MSCT and comprehensive evaluation of hernia repair outcomes using instrumental methods of examination.