Mesh Infection After Hernioplasty: Complete vs Partial Removal - Retrospective Study on Outcomes and Pathogen Analysis
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: Complete mesh removal, Partial mesh removal.
- Who it may be relevant to
- Registry conditions: Inguinal Hernia Repair, Mesh Infection. Basic parameters: 18 years — 80 years · All.
- 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
- Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
- Next step
- Save the trial, show it to the treating physician, and confirm current recruitment with the study center. Costs, documents and travel →
Unsure about the terms? Read our patient guide →
Official title
A Retrospective Study: Complete vs Partial Mesh Removal for Mesh Infection After Hernioplasty - Clinical Outcomes and Pathogen Analysis
Overview
Background: Mesh infection after tension-free inguinal hernia repair (IHR) is rare and challenging. When conservative treatment fails, surgery is often required. This study compared clinical outcomes of complete versus partial mesh removal in affected patients. Materials and Methods: We retrospectively analyzed patients who underwent surgery for mesh infection after IHR in our hospital between January 2016 and December 2025. Baseline data, perioperative indicators, postoperative complications, and microbiological results were compared between the complete and partial removal groups.
Detailed description
We conducted a single-center, retrospective case series analysis. We included patients who developed mesh infection after tension-free IHR and underwent surgical treatment at our center between January 2016 and December 2025. Patients with mesh infection after incisional, parastomal, or umbilical hernia repair were excluded. We also excluded patients who improved with conservative treatment and did not undergo surgery.
We collected the following data: demographic characteristics, comorbidities, laboratory and imaging results, characteristics of the primary hernia surgery, infection characteristics, intraoperative data, and postoperative outcomes. All data were entered into a standardized database. Follow-up was conducted through outpatient visits and telephone interviews. The last follow-up was on October 30, 2025.
Interventions
- Procedure Complete mesh removal
Total explantation of the entire prosthetic mesh, including all visible portions and fixation sutures, regardless of the extent of infection. - Procedure Partial mesh removal
Excision of only the infected or non-incorporated portion of the mesh, with preservation of the well-incorporated, uninfected segment left in situ.
Primary outcome measures
- Hernia Recurrence Rate [Time frame: From date of surgery to December 2025]
- Infection Recurrence Rate [Time frame: From date of surgery to December 2025]
Eligibility criteria
Inclusion criteria
- Patients who underwent tension-free inguinal hernioplasty with mesh placement.
- Patients diagnosed with mesh infection requiring surgical re-intervention.
- Patients who underwent complete or partial mesh removal surgery.
- Availability of complete medical records and follow-up data.
Exclusion criteria
- Patients with mesh infection managed conservatively (without surgical removal).
- Patients with missing critical data (e.g., intraoperative findings, pathogen results, or follow-up).
- Patients with concomitant procedures that could confound outcomes (e.g., simultaneous other hernia repair).
- Patients lost to follow-up immediately after discharge (no postoperative assessment).
Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.
Healthy volunteers: Yes
Study design
- Observational model
- Cohort
Study locations
Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.
Identifiers
NCT: NCT07491250 · HuadongHosptialHernia02