Onlay hernia mesh linked to foreign-body sensation

After elective incisional hernia repair, patients with onlay mesh more often felt a foreign body than those with retromuscular mesh; other reported outcomes were similar.

• Foreign-body sensation affected 37.1% with onlay mesh and 30.3% with retromuscular mesh.
• The Danish study included 2,348 survey respondents.

Severe chronic pain, self-reported recurrence, and physical impact did not differ across mesh positions. The findings show an association, not proof that mesh position caused the difference.