Skip to content

Comparison of Onlay Mesh Repair and Sublay Mesh Repair in Umbilical Hernia Surgery

Comparison of Onlay Mesh Repair and Sublay Mesh Repair in Umbilical Hernia Surgery

Status
Active, not recruiting
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT07367321
Enrollment
116
Registered
2026-01-26
Start date
2026-02-01
Completion date
2026-08-01
Last updated
2026-06-09

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Onlay Mesh, Umbilical Hernia Repair

Keywords

umbilical hernia repair, onlay mesh repair, sublay mesh repair

Brief summary

Umbilical hernia is a common condition that is frequently treated with surgical mesh repair to reduce recurrence rates. Among the commonly used techniques, onlay mesh repair and sublay mesh repair are widely performed; however, there is ongoing debate regarding their comparative effectiveness and safety. The aim of this study is to compare onlay mesh repair and sublay mesh repair in patients undergoing elective umbilical hernia surgery, with respect to postoperative complications, recurrence rates, operative outcomes, and length of hospital stay. By evaluating clinical outcomes associated with each technique, this study seeks to contribute evidence to guide the selection of the most appropriate surgical approach for umbilical hernia repair.

Detailed description

Umbilical hernia repair is one of the most commonly performed general surgical procedures. The use of prosthetic mesh has been shown to significantly reduce recurrence rates compared with primary suture repair. Among mesh-based techniques, onlay and sublay mesh repairs are frequently utilized, each with distinct technical characteristics and potential advantages and disadvantages. In onlay mesh repair, the mesh is placed over the anterior fascia following primary fascial closure, whereas in sublay mesh repair, the mesh is positioned in the retromuscular or preperitoneal plane. While sublay mesh repair is often considered to provide better mesh integration and lower recurrence rates, it may be associated with longer operative times and increased technical complexity. Conversely, onlay mesh repair is technically simpler but has been associated with higher rates of wound-related complications in some studies. The optimal technique for umbilical hernia repair remains a subject of ongoing investigation. This study is designed as a comparative clinical analysis of patients undergoing elective umbilical hernia surgery using either onlay mesh repair or sublay mesh repair. Adult patients who meet the eligibility criteria will be included. Demographic characteristics, hernia features, operative details, and perioperative outcomes will be recorded. Primary outcome measures will include postoperative complication rates and hernia recurrence. Secondary outcome measures will include operative time, length of hospital stay, and early postoperative morbidity. Patients will be followed postoperatively according to standard clinical practice to assess surgical outcomes. The results of this study are expected to provide comparative data on the safety and effectiveness of onlay and sublay mesh repair techniques in umbilical hernia surgery and to support evidence-based decision-making in clinical practice.

Interventions

Umbilical hernia repair performed with mesh placement on the anterior fascia following primary fascial closure.

Umbilical hernia repair performed with mesh placement beneath the fascia in the retromuscular or preperitoneal plane.

Sponsors

Bakirkoy Dr. Sadi Konuk Research and Training Hospital
Lead SponsorOTHER_GOV

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE

Intervention model description

Participants are assigned to either onlay mesh repair or sublay mesh repair in parallel groups.

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 90 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Patients aged 18 to 90 years * Patients diagnosed with small or medium-sized umbilical hernia according to the European Hernia Society (EHS) classification * Patients scheduled for elective umbilical hernia surgery * Patients who provide written informed consent

Exclusion criteria

* Patients younger than 18 years or older than 90 years * Patients undergoing emergency umbilical hernia surgery * Patients with bowel obstruction * Patients with chronic kidney failure * Patients with a history of previous abdominal surgery involving the stomach, duodenum, small intestine, or colon

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Postoperative Complication RateWithin 30 days after surgeryPostoperative complications occurring after umbilical hernia surgery, including surgical site infection, seroma, hematoma, wound-related complications, and other procedure-related adverse events.

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Hernia Recurrence RateUp to 6 months after surgeryOccurrence of recurrent umbilical hernia detected during postoperative follow-up.
Postoperative Pain ScoreFirst 7 days after surgeryPostoperative pain assessed using the Visual Analog Scale for Pain, ranging from 0 to 10, where 0 indicates no pain and 10 indicates the worst pain imaginable. Higher scores indicate worse pain severity.

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Jun 10, 2026