Mesh-Free Versus Mesh-Based Surgery for Female Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Prospective Comparison of Pubo-Urethral Ligament Plication and Transobturator Tape
For patients and families
In plain language
An automatic summary of structured registry data. It is an orientation aid, not a substitute for the official protocol or a physician assessment.
- What is being studied
- The protocol lists: Pubo-Urethral Ligament Plication (PLP), Transobturator Tape (TOT).
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI). Basic parameters: 18 years — 80 years · Female.
- What needs checking
- Age, condition and sex are only basic indicators. Prior treatment, laboratory values and other mandatory requirements appear in the eligibility criteria below.
- Where it takes place
- Turkey (Türkiye)
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
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Official title
Mesh-Free Versus Mesh-Based Surgery for Female Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Prospective Comparison of Pubo-Urethral Ligament Plication and Transobturator Tape With Short-Term Patient-Centered Outcomes
Overview
This prospective clinical study aims to compare the short-term effectiveness, safety, and patient-reported outcomes of two surgical techniques used for the treatment of female stress urinary incontinence (SUI): Pubo-Urethral Ligament Plication (PLP), a mesh-free native tissue repair method, and the Transobturator Tape (TOT) procedure, a commonly used mesh-based mid-urethral sling technique. The study evaluates continence improvement, perioperative and postoperative complications, operative time, hospital stay, postoperative pain, and patient satisfaction. The goal is to provide evidence on whether a mesh-free surgical option such as PLP can offer comparable outcomes to mesh-based TOT, particularly for patients seeking alternatives to synthetic materials.
Detailed description
This is a single-center, prospective, comparative clinical study evaluating two established surgical interventions for female stress urinary incontinence (SUI): Pubo-Urethral Ligament Plication (PLP) and Transobturator Tape (TOT). PLP is a mesh-free native tissue repair technique that reinforces pubo-urethral support by plicating the periurethral tissues. TOT, a mesh-based mid-urethral sling procedure, provides support to the urethra through the placement of a synthetic tape via the transobturator route.
Eligible patients with a clinical diagnosis of SUI who elect to undergo surgical treatment will be allocated to one of the two interventions based on shared decision-making between the surgeon and the patient. The study will collect demographic data, operative parameters, perioperative complications, and short-term postoperative outcomes. Continence outcomes will be assessed using validated questionnaires such as the International Consultation on Incontinence Questionnaire-Short Form (ICIQ-SF), as well as objective clinical evaluation during follow-up visits. Pain levels, urinary retention, de-novo urgency, wound complications, and overall patient satisfaction will also be recorded.
The primary aim of the study is to compare early continence improvement between the PLP and TOT procedures. Secondary aims include comparing perioperative and postoperative complications, operative time, postoperative pain, hospital discharge time, and patient-reported satisfaction. By directly comparing a mesh-free native tissue technique with a commonly used mesh-based sling, this study seeks to provide updated, patient-centered data that may guide surgical decision-making, especially in settings where mesh-related concerns or patient preference favor native tissue repair options.
Interventions
- Procedure Pubo-Urethral Ligament Plication (PLP)
A mesh-free native tissue surgical technique that reinforces urethral support by plicating the pubo-urethral ligament. The procedure aims to restore midurethral stability without the use of synthetic mesh. - Procedure Transobturator Tape (TOT)
A mesh-based midurethral sling procedure performed through the transobturator route to provide urethral support. The tape is positioned under the midurethra to treat stress urinary incontinence.
Primary outcome measures
- Improvement in Stress Urinary Incontinence Symptoms (ICIQ-SF Score) [Time frame: 6-24 weeks postoperatively]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
Female patients aged 18-80 years
Clinical diagnosis of stress urinary incontinence
Failure of conservative management (pelvic floor exercises or medical therapy)
Desire to undergo surgical treatment (PLP or TOT)
Ability to provide informed consent
Willingness to attend postoperative follow-up visits
Exclusion criteria
- Mixed urinary incontinence with predominant urge symptoms
Active urinary tract infection
Pelvic organ prolapse ≥ stage II
Previous anti-incontinence surgery
Neurological diseases affecting bladder function
Pregnancy or planning pregnancy during follow-up
Uncontrolled diabetes, bleeding disorders, or contraindications to surgery
Use of medications affecting bladder function (e.g., anticholinergics)
Inability to provide informed consent
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: No
Study design
- Allocation
- Non-randomized
- Model
- Parallel assignment
- Masking
- Open label
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
Study locations
Turkey (Türkiye) · 1 center
- Harran University Research and Application Hospital — Şanliurfa
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07290114 · HU-SUI-PLP-TOT-2025