Reply Re: 'The 18-gauge needle: an innovative simple tool for frontalis sling surgery'.

摘要

We thank the authors for their insightful comments. Our emphasis in this article has been to introduce this as a simple and innovative alternative to the existing tools used in sling surgery. In our experience, the time taken to detach the silicone sling to guide it through the 18-gauge needle is not significant enough to alter the total surgical time. The 18-gauge needle may also be useful when using nonmounted 800-mum medical grade silicone slings, cost-efficient spools of silicone rod in developed and developing countries, and for BD Visitec slings in which up to 4 to 5 sides can be repaired with this length in both primary and revision surgeries without compromising the final outcome. We agree that passing the attached needle and sling through the 18-gauge needle can be an alternative technique.