The impact of boundary conditions on surface curvature of polypropylene mesh in response to uniaxial loading

Abstract

Exposure following pelvic organ prolapse repair has been observationally associated with wrinkling of the implanted mesh. The purpose of this study was to quantify the impact of variable boundary conditions on the out-of-plane deformations of mesh subjected to tensile loading. Using photogrammetry and surface curvature analyses, deformed geometries were accessed for two commercially available products. Relative to standard clamping methods, the amount of out-of-plane deformation significantly increased when point loads were introduced to simulate suture fixation in-vivo. These data support the hypothesis that regional increases in the concentration of mesh potentially enhance the host׳s foreign body response, leading to exposure.

Keywords: Boundary conditions; Exposure; Mesh; Pelvic organ prolapse; Photogrammetry; Surface curvature.