The Role of 3D/4D Transperineal Ultrasound in Risk Stratification for Pelvic Organ Prolapse Recurrence: Native Tissue Versus Mesh Repair.

Background/

Objectives

Pelvic organ prolapse (POP) management requires precise patient selection for surgical techniques to balance clinical efficacy and safety. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the role of preoperative 3D/4D transperineal ultrasound in the risk stratification of POP recurrence. We analyzed the impact of levator ani muscle (LAM) injuries, specifically avulsion and ballooning, as identified by ultrasound, on both anatomical and subjective success rates, comparing native tissue repair versus mesh-augmented surgery.

Methods

A prospective, multicenter observational study was conducted over a five-year period, January 2021 to December 2024 (recruitment), with follow-up completed in December 2025, ensuring a minimum follow-up of 12 months for all participants. The cohort included 276 women scheduled for primary surgery for symptomatic POP stage ≥ 2. Prior to intervention (116 underwent native tissue repair and 160 received mesh), all patients underwent 3D/4D transperineal ultrasound for standardized volume acquisition. Using this preoperative functional imaging technique, we measured the hiatal area and diagnosed the presence of hiatal ballooning (≥25.0 cm2) or levator muscle avulsion.

Results

Ultrasound assessment revealed significant differences in surgical success based on the diagnosed baseline site-specific defects. Hiatal ballooning was the sonographic finding that demonstrated the greatest impact on risk stratification. Among patients with preoperative ballooning, mesh use significantly reduced both subjective recurrence (5.7% vs. 21.4%, p = 0.001) and objective recurrence (21.4% vs. 35.7%, p = 0.040) compared to native tissue repair. Furthermore, in women without ultrasound-documented avulsion, mesh also decreased objective recurrence (17.9% vs. 33.0%, p = 0.024). Multivariate analysis, adjusted for age, BMI, menopausal status, and parity, confirmed that, after stratifying by these preoperative ultrasound findings, a native tissue approach remains the primary independent predictor of surgical failure (OR 1.752 for objective recurrence; p = 0.041).

Conclusions

In conclusion, native tissue repair was identified as the primary independent predictor of surgical failure. While 3D/4D transperineal ultrasound helps identify high-risk phenotypes such as hiatal ballooning, these sonographic findings did not maintain independent significance in the multivariate model. Therefore, ultrasound should be considered a complementary tool for surgical planning rather than a definitive predictor of recurrence.