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Absorbable Fixation Materials: A Critical Appraisal

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The SAGES Manual of Hernia Repair
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Abstract

The use of prosthetic material for most hernia repairs is considered standard of care. Current advancements in both material engineering and surgical technique have improved treatment of this complex healthcare problem. The vast array of mesh materials and mesh fixation devices allow for a more individualized hernia repair. Location of hernia, physiologic milieu, and patient comorbidities dictate the type of repair and material, if any, to be implanted. However, the best practice of hernia repair is still elusive, and questions remain regarding the optimal mesh material for particular indications, the ideal technique for operative repair, and the most appropriate fixation method. As we gain a better understanding of the short-term and long-term impact of foreign body implantation within the body, we are challenged to develop new materials and to improve ways to secure mesh in place. The development of absorbable fixation materials has maintained the surgeon’s ability to accomplish the goals of mesh stability and durability of repair while potentially diminishing the impact that a foreign material may have on an individual patient in the long term. This chapter focuses on mesh fixation and specifically new technologies of absorbable fixation.

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Correspondence to Matthew Kroh MD .

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El-Hayek, K., Kroh, M. (2013). Absorbable Fixation Materials: A Critical Appraisal. In: Jacob, B., Ramshaw, B. (eds) The SAGES Manual of Hernia Repair. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4824-2_43

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-4824-2_43

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