Simulation of vaginal uterosacral ligament suspension damage, mimicking a mesh-augmented apical prolapse repair

Abstract

Synthetic implants were used for repair of anterior compartment prolapses, which can be caused by direct trauma resulting in damaged pelvic structures. The mechanical properties of these implants may cause complications, namely erosion of the mesh through the vagina. In this study, we evaluated, by modeling, the behavior of implants, during Valsalva maneuver, used to replace damaged uterosacral ligaments (USLs), mimicking a sacrocolpopexy repair. For this purpose, two synthetic implants (A, for prolapse repair and B, for Hernia repair) were uniaxially tested, and the mechanical properties obtained were incorporated in the computational models of the implants. The computational model for the implant was incorporated into the model of the female pelvic cavity, in order to mimic the USLs after its total rupture and with 90% and 50% impairment. The total rupture and impairments of the USLs, caused a variation of the supero-inferior displacement and displacement magnitude of the vagina, with higher values for the total rupture. With total rupture of the USLs, when compared to healthy USLs, supero-inferior displacement and displacement magnitude of the vagina increased by 4.98 mm (7.69 mm vs 12.67 mm) and 6.62 mm (9.38 mm vs 16.00 mm), respectively. After implantation (A and B) a reduction of the supero-inferior displacements of the anterior vaginal wall occurred, to values found in the case of the model without any impairment or rupture of the ligaments. The simulation was able to mimic the biomechanical response of the USLs, in response to different implants stiffnesses, which can be used in the development of novel meshes.