[Proposal for a new classification of prostheses used in the repair of abdominal wall hernial defects].

Research and development in new biomaterials is currently increasing. The greater use of prostheses for the repair of abdominal wall defects has meant that new designs incorporating novel materials are constantly emerging. Today's surgeon needs to be aware of these novel designs and become familiar with their use. In the present article, we classify the prostheses currently available on the market for the repair of abdominal wall defects, mostly hernias. The new classification scheme we propose takes into account the type of prosthesis, its components, and its ideal site of placement in the abdominal wall.