Comparison of Surgisis®, AlloDerm®, and Vicryl Woven Mesh® Grafts for Abdominal Wall Defect Repair in an Animal Model

Background Surgisis ® and AlloDerm ® , two biosynthetic materials, have been previously used with success in abdominal wall repairs in the setting of contaminated fields. Historically, Vicryl Woven Mesh ® , a synthetic material, has also been used in such settings as a temporary bridge for abdominal wall reconstruction. This study compares Surgisis and AlloDerm with Vicryl Woven Mesh with respect to tensile strength, collagen remodeling, and neovascularization using a rat hernia model. Methods A prospective randomized trial of 54 Sprague-Dawley rats were assigned to the Surgisis, AlloDerm, or Vicryl Woven Mesh group with baseline, 30-day, and 60-day end points. A 1.5-cm × 5.0-cm defect was created in the right abdominis rectus muscle and repaired with an underlay bridge graft using the different treatment materials. Tensile strength was measured using an Instron tensiometer. Histologic specimens were evaluated for neovascularization, collagen deposition, and collagen organization at the 30- and 60-day time points. Results Surgisis had significantly greater tensile strength compared to Vicryl Woven Mesh at the baseline time point (0.142 vs. 0.091 MPa, p