Shore-Up, a Novel Technique with Tensor Threads in Women with Stress Urinary Incontinence: A Pilot Study.

UNLABELLED: <p>

Background

Stress urinary incontinence (SUI) commonly affects women's quality of life. The widespread recommendation of using non-absorbable meshes has delayed a more definitive surgical solution. Newer, less invasive biomaterial treatments show promise.

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to describe and evaluate a new urethral suspension technique called "shore-up," performed with APTOS® resorbable tensor threads on an outpatient procedure.

DESIGN

A pilot study was conducted.

PARTICIPANTS

32 SUI women, unresponsive to conservative treatment, participated in the study.

SETTINGS: The study was conducted at the HM IMI Clinic, Toledo, Spain.

METHOD: Patients completed validated incontinence questionnaires (Sandvik and ISCQ SF) before and at 1, 2, 6, and 12 months post-procedure. A blinded analysis of results was conducted.

RESULTS

Women with SUI of different degrees: mild (3/32), moderate (19/32), severe (8/32), and very severe (2/32) showed a significant improvement (p < 0.05) in scores on both tests. After 12 months, a success rate of 72% (23/32) without SUI was observed, 16% with mild (5/32) and 12% with moderate SUI (4/32). None of them required hospitalization or post-surgical assistance, and the most frequent complications were extrusion of the final thread end through the vagina in 33% (9/32), transient dyspareunia in 6% (4/31), and early suture dehiscence in 6% (2/32).

CONCLUSION

The shore-up technique is a promising, minimally invasive option for managing SUI, offering high efficacy, safety, and patient satisfaction.

LIMITATIONS: This is a small study, and further research is recommended to confirm these findings (ethic code 23.02.2155-GHM). </p>.