Prepubic and thigh abscess after successive placement of two suburethral slings

Abstract

We present a case of prepubic and thigh abscess after the placement of two types of suburethral slings in a 65-year-old woman suffering from stress urinary incontinence (SUI). The first surgical procedure (prepubic tension-free vaginal tape) was unsuccessful. Thus, 2 months later, we placed an ObTape sling by transobturator approach. This second procedure was successful. Seven months later, the patient presented with vaginal erosion of the sling with no inflammatory signs. The suburethral portion of the sling was immediately removed and the vagina was sutured. Nine months later, a prepubic abscess occurred and required removal of the prepubic sling, drain placement, and antibiotic therapy. Unfortunately, 9 months later, a thigh abscess occurred. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allowed precise diagnosis and anatomic localization of the thigh abscess. Surgery consisted of opening and draining the abscess and removing the transobturator sling. At 6 months follow-up, no persistent inflammatory sign was observed on MRI, and SUI did not recur.