MRI is unable to illustrate the absorption time of the absorbable TIGR mesh in humans: a case report

A male patient had a bilateral laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair in 2012. The right-sided hernia was treated with a permanent mesh, and the left-sided hernia received an absorbable mesh. The absorbable TIGR mesh has been proved to be completely absorbed and replaced by new connective tissue after 3 years in sheep. The patient was therefore followed for 3 years by annual magnetic resonance imagings (MRIs) to illustrate the absorption time in humans. During follow-up, the thickness of the absorbable mesh slightly decreased, and at the last clinical examination, the patient was without a recurrence. However, MRI failed to illustrate absorption of the TIGR mesh, perhaps since new connective tissue and the mesh material had the same appearance on the images. In conclusion, MRI was unable to confirm an absorption time of 3 years for the TIGR mesh, and further studies are needed to investigate if the mesh also completely absorbs in humans.