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The aim of the present study was to evaluate the long term results of repair of ventral incisional hernias or of defects in the abdominal wall using polypropylene mesh. Eighty-eight patients were operated on from 1979-1996, inclusive. Abdominal protrusion was found in 78 patients. Fifty-one of these patients had previously had an incisional hernia repaired and the remaining 10 patients had an abdominal wall defect as a result of excision of a malignant tumour. The polypropylene mesh was placed extraperitoneally and sutured with two rows of interrupted stitches, using non-absorbable sutures. Recurrence of the hernia was found in 10 of the 67 patients with incisional hernia. Eight patients had a relaxation of the muscles of the abdominal wall. Perioperative complications consisted of infection (n = 4), embolism (n = 1), haematoma (n = 1), and pneumonia (n = 3, one fatal), and one fatal bowel perforation. Median follow up time was 5.7 years (range 0-17). It is therefore possible to obtain acceptable results after repair of larger incisional hernias even if they had been repaired before.

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Data from the records of 112 patients who were treated by dermatome shaving for psoriasis vulgaris were analysed. A psoriatic "area" was defined as all psoriatic skin lesions present in a specific region at the first treatment, and 108 patients with 202 areas were included in the study. In 68 patients the treatment was limited to a single area, and 40 patients had from two to nine areas treated, mainly on the legs and arms. Complications occurred in nine patients; one had a wound infection that required treatment with an antibiotic, in five patients healing was prolonged, and three patients developed unsightly scars. Thirty-seven patients and 104 areas have not recurred during mean follow-up periods of 1.4 years and 1.9 years, respectively. In all 108 patients the median recurrence free period was eight months (range: 0-5.6 years). The median recurrence free period for the 202 areas was 13 months (range: 0-8.2 years). Reshaving of partial recurrences in 46 patients led to 40% that did not recur. The best prognostic factor available is to do a test shave before initiating more extensive treatment.