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

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).