Neo-nervegenesis in Inguinal Hernia Implant ProFlor

Biopsy specimen were excised at defined postoperative stages from patients who underwent hernia repair with the 3D prosthesis named ProFlor. Scope of the study was to determine the presence, quantity and quality of the neural ingrowth within the implant fabric. Histology revealed the presence of multiple nerve clusters that, starting from the early stage post-implantation, increased in number and degree of maturation. In the long term, neural elements assumed the typical aspect of normal nervous structures complete in all components. The development of highly specialized tissue such as nerves, together with other components of the abdominal wall already described in literature, seems to finalize a regenerative response. This kind of behavior, being the expected result from a device intended for the cure of inguinal hernia and its degenerative source, seems to be coherent with the pathogenesis of the disease.

Inclusion criteria

• Patients who underwent inguinal hernia repair with the prosthetic device named ProFlor
• Patients undergoing recurrent inguinal hernia repair after primary repair with the prosthetic device named ProFlor
• Patients undergoing surgical procedure in the groin area after inguinal hernia repair with the prosthetic device named ProFlor

Exclusion criteria

• Patients who underwent inguinal hernia repair with conventional flat meshes