title: Pfannenstiel versus Maylard incision for cesarean delivery: A randomized controlled trial.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To compare the Pfannenstiel incision with transverse muscle-cutting Maylard incision in women who had cesarean delivery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were assigned randomly to a Pfannenstiel or Maylard incision. Postoperative treatment was similar for each group. Surgical characteristics, complications, postoperative pain (visual analog scale, analgesic use), and related quality of life (1- and 3-month self-administered questionnaires) were analyzed. Abdominal wall muscle recovery was compared objectively by dynamometer.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Fifty-four women had a Pfannenstiel incision and 43 had the Maylard incision. There were no differences in intraoperative characteristics, postoperative morbidity, or pain. Women's responses to the Nottingham Health Profile questionnaire at 1 and 3 months postoperatively and clinical and isokinetic testing for abdominal wall strength were similar between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Transecting the rectus muscle was no more deleterious than the Pfannenstiel incision. There was no difference in objectively measured abdominal wall strength.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Hôpital Arnaud de Villeneuve, Montpellier, France. pl-giacalone@chu-montpellier.fr
authors.forename: Pierre Ludovic
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Giacalone
authors.forename: Jean Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Daures
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Vignal
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Herisson
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hedon
authors.forename: François
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Laffargue
mesh_terms: D000009:Abdominal Muscles / Q000502:physiology; D000328:Adult; D000700:Analgesics / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002585:Cesarean Section / Q000379:methods*; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007813:Laparotomy / Q000379:methods*; D010149:Postoperative Pain / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D011183:Postoperative Complications; D011247:Pregnancy; D011788:Quality of Life; D013718:Tensile Strength
chemical_list: D000700:Analgesics