RESUMO
BACKGROUND: importance of mesh overlap on recurrence after open umbilical hernia repair has been poorly studied. METHODS: a retrospective cohort study was performed with patients who underwent open umbilical hernia repair with bilayer prosthesis between 2004 and 2015. RESULTS: 1538 patients were included. Fifty patients (3.3%) had a mesh overlap lower than 1â¯cm. After a mean follow-up of 4.1 years 53 patients (3.5%) developed a recurrence. Recurrence was associated with a mesh overlap smaller than 1â¯cm (10.2% vs. 3.3%, pâ¯=â¯0.010, ORâ¯=â¯3.3). In the logistic regression model an overlap smaller than 1â¯cm was not statistically associated with recurrence (ORâ¯=â¯2.5, pâ¯=â¯0.123). Female gender, postoperative complications and prosthesis size were associated with hernia recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: mesh overlap seems to be an important factor for hernia recurrence. A mesh overlap of at least 1â¯cm should be used until more studies are performed about this issue.